Dyeing rescued yarn with food colouring.

I have recently learnt how to crochet. I also have recently re-realised how expensive wool is in the shops. I have been looking for alternatives and found this tutorial for reusing wool from charity shop jumpers. http://www.craftstylish.com/item/9839/how-to-recycle-yarn-from-a-thrift-store-sweater . I found a 100% wool jumper which happened to be white and so then started to look for ways to dye it.  I found a way to just use food colouring which doesn't wash out or run!
Equiptment and materials:
Thrifted Wool
Food Colours
Sauce Dispensers (see step 2)
White Vinegar
Steamer 
Cling Film
Rubber Gloves 

Step 1 Making skeins and soaking

To make the skeins as I unravelled the jumper I simply wound around my knees as i sat cross legged and when I had a good amount I tied scraps around the whole bundle at four intervals (please excuse my pyjamas in the photo). If you don't know how to twist a skein to keep it from tangling this is just one of the many videos available http://www.chemknits.com/2011/06/twisting-yarn-into-hank.html . To allow the fibre to accept the dye more readily the skeins should be soaked in a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. I just used my sink and put a plate over the top to ensure all the wool was under the surface. It should soak for about half an hour.

Comments

[mARThagill]

I think its really important that we either reuse resources we already have or support ecologically sustainable, local and ethical ways of producing them. Thanks Penolopy I was really happy with the way the colours turned out too. Much more exciting than the boring white jumper it started out as. :)

[bettbee]

I love this! And, it's a way for vegans to ethically use real wool, as it does not create a demand for animals to be farmed.

[Penolopy Bulnick]

That's awesome! And beautiful color combinations!