Dyeing details

There is a kit for the first stage of the process. Each of the five kits contains:-
1 10 bundles of superwash merino fibre weighing approximately 100g. each
2 2 500ml. bottles of dye, one of the main gold colour (this is the one with the warning on the top) and the second the accent colour. Beware, these are fairly strong concentrations to ensure that there is sufficient dye for all of the fibre.
3 Gloves
4 Syringes
5 Spoons
In addition to what is included your group will need to provide vinegar, a suitable dye pot and the other dyeing equipment you usually use. Please be conscious of all health and safety aspects of dyeing at home and if you are uncertain ask.
I have done some sampling and 50ml. of dye solution should give a good gold colour on each 100g. bundle. The wool is very "hungry" and tends to take up the dye extremely well and very quickly.
The method I used was to dye the gold first then enhance it with the second colour as follows:- Please note this is not the only method and for those using blue and or purple it may be advisable to space dye both colours to ensure you do not end up with green or just mud colour.
1 take one of the bundles, unwind it and, if you wish, loosely chain it to make a more controllable unit. Thoroughly wet this wool by soaking it in cold water for 15 – 20 minutes.
2 place your dye pot on the stove and add barely enough cold water so that the wool will just be covered when it is added. To the water add 30ml. of vinegar and then 50ml. of your gold dye solution, stir well then add the wetted wool ensuring it is just submerged. Bring the dye pot slowly to simmering point while very gently moving the wool. Keep at this point for 5 minutes or until the water in the dye pot is clear. This is referred to as exhausting the dye bath . Turn off the heat.
3 Now is the time to play with your second colour. Using a syringe add the second colour to sections of the dye bath and give a gentle poke to encourage it into the wool. You may wish to give variety by using the accent colour at varying strengths in each batch you do. If so dilute some of the dye in a separate bottle by adding a measured amount of dye solution, say 10ml. of dye and 40ml. water, then 20ml. dye and 30ml water and so on. Alternatively variety could be given by varying the amount of the second colour added but be aware that you only have 500ml to use for all 10 bundles of wool. Once you are happy with the "space dyed " effect very gently bring the dye pot back up to simmering point and keep at that temperature for another 5 minutes the water should be clear at the end of this stage. If it is not you have used too much dye solution for the quantity of wool
4 You can leave this to cool in the dye pot then rinse well and dry. As this is superwash wool it should not felt so, if you wish to get on and dye another batch, tip the content of the dye bath into a sink full cold water and rinse well The water in the dye pot and the rinsing water should be clear at this stage and effectively all you are putting down the sink is a very dilute vinegar solution.

If you are uncertain or run into difficulties and will not be able to complete on time please get in touch as soon as possible there are many experianced dyers in our guild.