Multi Color Yarn Dyeing – Red & Blue Makes

Part 1 of my Fiber To Dye For Projects!

There are so many different fun techniques to dyeing yarn that I want to try, so I thought well, why not share!

Here’s a variation on Immersion Dyeing Yarn which uses two colors to make a third. You know…yellow & blue makes green, etc. etc… I’m sure this technique has a formal name, I just don’t know what that is! If you do, by all means, leave a comment and let me know.



Normally, Immersion Dyeing involves immersing the yarn or fiber in a large pot filled with water, vinegar and dye. This gives you a pretty evenly dyed, one color skein. By using several smaller containers, you can add different colors to the same skein without Hand Painting or Kettle Dyeing.

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Supplies Needed:

-Light or White Yarn – Protein Fiber s.a. Sheep, Alpaca, Angora
–Jacquard Acid Dyes in Crimson and Royal Blue

You also need:

–Canning Jars
-Old Pot or Roaster
-White Vinegar
-Rubber Gloves (optional)
-Water
-Stove or Hot Plate
-Bowl, spoons, etc.

*Safety First! Once you use this cookware for dyeing with acid dyes, you will no longer be able to use it for food prep! I buy old roasters and dishes for dyeing at Goodwill.

Prepare the Yarn

Fill a bowl with very warm water and add about a cup of vinegar. Place your yarn in the water and push down to submerge but don’t move it around. Let the yarn soak for about 30 minutes.

Prepare the Dye

Mix up your dyes according to package directions. If you don’t want to mix up the entire batch at once, use one teaspoon per cup of water. ALWAYS wear a dust mask when mixing dye powder!!

Fill each canning jar about 1/3 with warm water and add about a tablespoon of vinegar. Next add about 1/3 cup of the dissolved Crimson dye in one jar and Blue in the other.

Add the Yarn

Set your jars of dye in the bottom of the roasting pan. Pick up the yarn and gently squeeze out the excess water. Fold it in half and slowly submerge each end of the skein in a jar of dye.

Once half is in the Crimson dye and half is in the Blue dye, using either gloved hands or a spoon, move the yarn to one side and the other until the colors blend in the middle and make purple! How much purple you want in your yarn is completely up to you!

Heat Setting

Now we need to set the color (make it permanent) by heating the yarn. Add about 1 inch of water to the bottom of the roaster. Cover with a lid or foil and turn on the burner to High. Once the water begins to simmer, adjust the heat to continue simmering for about 45 minutes. You don’t want a rolling boil. After the time is up, turn off the heat and let the yarn cool. This can be several hours or overnight. At this point, the yarn should have taken up all of the dye and the water in the jars will be pretty clear.

Finishing:

Rinse your yarn in cool water and hang it to dry. If, for some reason, your water is not clear and the yarn is bleeding color, you can repeat the heat setting process.

Have you dyed your own yarn? How did it turn out?

Related Yarn Dyeing Posts:

• Best Yarn Dye Supplies & Tools
• How to Dye Cotton Yarn
• 6 Yarn and Wool Dyeing Techniques
• Natural Dyeing with Dandelion Flowers
• Dyeing Yarn with Black Beans
• How to Dye Yarn Naturally with Black Walnuts
• How to Dye Speckled Yarn
• Kettle Dyeing Yarn and Wool
• Dyeing Yarn with a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot
• Natural Dyeing with Dandelions
• How to Dye Semi Solid Yarn the Easy Way
• Dyeing Self Striping Yarn without Special Tools

Multi Color Yarn Dyeing