I Wasn't Meant to Dye ~

Next Saturday if all works out I'll be heading to friend Sheila's house to dye wool.  Maybe I'll learn the correct way . . . sigh.  Yesterday I thought I'd try again after my last dyeing fiasco.  I had time so didn't need to feel rushed.  Problem #1 ~ I didn't stir the dye mixture long enough so it was not all dissolved.  Problem #2 ~ I'm a dumb **** sometimes.  All was going well until it was time to add the glug of vinegar.  My vinegar was not under the sink so I figured it had to be in the basement or garage.  Not sure why I thought it might be in the garage since I never use it there.  I go to the garage first since it is closer and see a gallon jug with a vinegar label.  I bring it to the stove and start to add a glug and am wondering why the vinegar is blue.  Well, the light bulb goes off and I realize that the "vinegar" is the vegetation killer I made.  Thankfully it consists of vinegar, Epsom salts and a little Dawn dish detergent (hence the blue color).  Luckily those are the ingredients used in dyeing wool so I did not ruin the wool. 

 

The color formula, Emma Lou's Putty (old) is from "Antique Colours for Primitive Rugs" by Emma Lou Lais and Barbara Carroll.  I mixed up two pots, one using 4 tablespoons of the dye mixture and the other using 5 tablespoons.  There is not as much difference as anticipated.  The color doesn't look a whole lot like the sample in the book, but I LOVE it.  (Of course, the colors are more muted in person.)

 

 

 

As if I don't have enough to do, Thursday with the Hidden Hills Hookers, I took a wool applique class from Donna of Crows on the Ledge.  The sample was done up in bright colors,

 

 

but the majority of us were working with primitive colors.  Here is my progress so far. 

 

 

Not too much more to do, but there are a couple overachievers who are already done :)  I had never worked with Valdani pearl cotton before and now I know why everyone raves about it. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren