Oh Yeah!

That’s what the Kool Aid guy (the big pitcher) used to say, right?

I was thinking that I needed to plan ahead for this Kool Aid dyeing class that I’ll be teaching at the end of January. Get samples ready and all –
So, yesterday I make up a bunch of little mini skeins, selected a variety of flavors, and had at it.

Here are the results:

The Whole Gang

I think they turned out pretty cool. Best Kool Aid dying I’ve done in a while.

I think the key really is using enough of the stuff to get really saturated colors.

I used some Lambs Pride that I had in the stash- both white (Cream) and Taupe.
Here are some photos to show the differences between cream and taupe in the same flavor-

Pink Lemonade:

Pink Lemonade

Mango:

Pineapple

Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade:

Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade
(This one actually had three samples- the one on the left is some light gray handspun)

I really like the colors on Taupe.
Might knit up the little samples into swatches for the class. Not sure yet.

It was just so easy. Took me maybe a half hour to do the whole thing.

And while I was busy making the kitchen smell like fruit punch, The Man was out in the shop re-threading the flyer shaft on the new little wheel (Sophie).

It worked out great, and now I’m able to use my Kromski whorls with her!

Sohie refitted

I did some measurements, and am pleased to announce that now Sophie has the following ratios (approximately): 5.7:1, 7:1 (on the kromski slower whorl) and 10:1, 13:1 (on the faster whorl, shown above)

For comparison, here is a photo of the whorl that she came with-

Old whorl and New Whorl
(I think the ratio on that one came out to 4:1)

She’s really coming along! Getting more versatile all the time.

And thanks to Michelle, I have found a woodworker that will make me some new bobbins for her. I’ll be shipping her flyer assembly out tomorrow for him for work from.

What a good wool day!

5 Comments

  1. Michelle

    I LOVE the Kool-Aid on the taupe! I’ve done some Kool-Aid dying, but none so controlled yet. Looks like the Man does a pretty good handyman job himself!

    Reply
    • sheepsclothing

      Thanks! I really like how the overdyed ones worked out too. And I’m really impressed with the job Shimon did with my new-old wheel. It worked out just as I’d hoped!

      Reply
    • sheepsclothing

      I expect the Kool Aid colors will fade some, especially if they spend a lot of time in direct sun,, but it’s fun while it lasts! I wish I knew what kind of wood the little wheel is, but the person I bought her from didn’t know much about her. Maybe Ron, the guy who is going to make me some new bobbins will have some idea…..

      Reply
  2. Michelle

    I haven’t had a problem with Kool-Aid fading, nor have any of the others on the Spinning list who have used it. After all, the carpets and clothing of millions of kids have proven its colorfastness! hee

    Reply

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