Stovetop Kool-aid Dying Using Alum As an Modant

this is an instructable on how to use alum as a mordant (something used to help fix dye to fiber) to pre-treat wool yarn so the dye will be permanently set in the fiber. Also how to dye yarn using Kool-aid on a stove top. You can skip the kool-aid step and use your own dyes or natural plant dyes instead.

I found the recipe for the Alum mordant at : http://www.allfiberarts.com/library/howto/ht00/how_alum_mordant.htm

Step 1: What You Need

For the pretreatment you'll need:
Alum
cream of tarter
gloves
yarn in a light colour it needs to be wool
scissors
a scale
2 chairs
spoons
metal pots NOT aluminum or cast iron

For the Kool-aid dyeing:
Kool-aid
vinegar
yarn
measuring cups
yarn
metal pots NOT aluminum or cast iron
spoons or tongs
gloves

Step 2: Getting the Yarn Ready

Take you yarn a wrap it around the backs of two chairs. Tie it loosely in about 3 places to keep it tidy.

Get your yarn damp, and squeeze out any extra water.

Step 3: Using the Alum Mordant

Fill a pot with water and heat.
Weigh yarn, mine weighed 100 grams per skein.
Add 10% Alum to yarn weight and 5% Cream of Tartar to the pot.
Add yarn, making sure that it is covered by the mixture, if not then add more water.
Let the yarn simmer for one hour.
Remove fiber and squeeze out excess water


You can let the yarn dry and dye it a different time.
From here you can continue and use kool-aid to dye, or do your own thing, and use natural dyes.

Step 4: Dying With Kool-aid

You don't have to use yarn that has been pre-treated with the Alum for these steps, but I wanted to make sure my colour was long lasting so i did just in case.

Add 1 package of Kool-aid to 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar. The vinegar will help keep the colours bright in the future.
Simmer dye and add damp yarn.
Simmer for about 45 minutes, or until the colour is all absorbed into the yarn. For me the purple was done after only 10 minutes.
Be sure to occasionally turn yarn over for even dying.

Step 5: Finishing

Rinse yarn, and hang to air dry.

NOTES:
Be sure you don't over stir the yarn or the yarn will felt up. Hot water +movement = felt
The only thing that smells worse then wet wool is burnt wool, so watch your pots.
It is better to not use your kitchen pots that you cook food in, Kool-aid is pretty harmless but other dyes can be bad for you. So don't eat.