Virginia Farm Wool Works

 

NOTES ON MICROWAVE DYEING

 

1.      Weigh the dry yarn or fibre to be dyed.

2.      Thoroughly soak the fibre/yarn to be dyed (minimum 1 hour in hot water or preferably overnight in cold)

3.      Shake dye container thoroughly and Measure the correct amount of dyepowder for the weight (when using Landscape or Gaywool dyes, use 10 grams to 100 grams of fibre – 2 x 5 mil. Measuring spoons full - mix the dye powder in about Ύ of a cup of hot water and stir thoroughly.  NB.  If you are using 2 different colours to random dye, then you will need to mix 5 grams per 100 grams of fibre of each colour. 

4.      To RANDOM DYE, Place dripping fibre in a wide shallow microwave safe container such as pyrex.   Spread out fibre to cover the base in one thickness only if possible.

5.      Pour most of dye over one end of fibre, and other colour over the other end.  Use the back of a spoon to push the fibre down into the pool of dye and spread it around, leaving a white section between the colours.

6.      Cover loosely (steam must escape but you don’t want splatters) and cook on high for up to 6 minutes (dependent on power of m/w) – should have steam condensed over lid and be very hot.  Remove from m/w, remove lid, turn fibre over with tongs, add the remainder of the dye (dyes) on the underside or any white spots, then add about a cup of water with tblspn white vinegar in it.

7.       Recover the dish and again cook on high for 6 minutes.

8.      Leave fibre in container to thoroughly cool.   (Half your dye-fixing happens during the cooling down process)  All dye should be absorbed into the fibre leaving just cloudy water.  (Except, if you have used turquoise or bright pink, when you will have some residue in the water).

9.      Rinse  thoroughly in cold or tepid water until water runs clear.

10.  Dry in shade – if yarn, then hanging, if fibre then flat on a table and open with fingers before it is dry.

11.  TO EVEN DYE   Premix dye and add to several cups of cold water in the container to be used (enough to well cover the fibre).  Stir thoroughly and then add wet fibre.   Move fibre around in the dye mixture for a minute or so before cooking.  Again give it 5 or 6 minutes, turn and add vinegar, then re cook as above.

 

Landscape and Gaywool dye all animal fibres (wool, silk, mohair, alpaca, etc., as well as nylon, but not other synthetics or cotton.  For these you need another type of dye. The Iberia range of dyes can be used for most synthetics and natural fibres.

 

TROUBLESHOOTING

 

  1. Yarn is supposed to be even colour but is patchy with a light band under the ties.

Yarn is tied too tightly (should be fig. 8 ties loose enough to spread out into a flat ribbon).  

2.  Yarn is an uneven depth of colour,   Either dye was not completely stirred in, yarn was not thoroughly wetted out or there was not enough liquid for good circulation of dye

 

  1.  Yarn is coloured but a lot of colour remains in the water.  Cooking time was not long enough, or  hard water was used – try adding more vinegar.   Usual cause is yarn taken out of liquid before it has cooled – wastes dye!

 

  1. Yarn is right colour but a lot of dye rinses out.   Too much dye powder used for weight of fibre.  NOTE;  When using turquoise (Opal or Iris or Kingfisher), or Galah (bright pink) use 1/3rd less dye than usual and give at least 3 rinses.