Weavers Guild of MN

Hand-dyeing your own fibers can be intimidating. How do you know which dye to use? Heat or no heat? Salt? Acid? This class will break it down into the chemistry you need to know. Using commercial dyes, we will dye small samples of yarn and fabrics in cotton, silk, nylon, wool and more. Get the specifics for which dye to use when, the process you need for each kind of fiber, how to get the colors and effects you want and most especially how to work with dyes in ways that are safe and earth-friendly. Finally, learn some troubleshooting techniques for when things don’t come out the way you envisioned and dispell some old dyers “wives tales”. Equipment note: Please bring an apron (or clothes that you can get messy) and a pair of well-fitting rubber gloves (latex or vinyl, like the kind used at doctors’ offices or the kind you use for washing dishes.) By “well-fitting” I mean that it is very helpful if they fit pretty closely and aren’t floppy or clumsy. Materials fee $20, payable to the instructor

Learn to dye your own custom yarns with three techniques: semi-solid, hand painted, and self-striping. We will dye mini-skeins using each technique during class as samples, then dye an additional skein (wool, alpaca, silk) for your own project. Learn the basics of using acid dyes on protein fibers, tips for making sure your dyes are colorfast, and how to plan and create the yarn you want. Equipment note: In class, we are going to dye small sample skeins so that you can have the opportunity to try many different techniques. That way, you can see the results of the colors and processes and use those results to help you decide how to dye your own skein in the last hour of class. Sample skeins and dyes will be provided as part of your materials fee. You should bring one or two skeins of yarn to class with you to dye. Your yarn must be wool, silk, alpaca, nylon or any combination of these fibers. If your skein has a small amount (less than 10%) of a fiber other than those listed, it is fine. Superwash is fine. Your yarn should be a standard sized skein 2-4 oz. Your yarn [read more...]