Hand Dyed Mohair Yarn - Create Your OWN Goatally Gorgeous Variegated Yarn

This guide will show you how to create a beautiful variegated mohair yarn!

There is the full kit available on my website, and I also sell the yarn separately

Supplies

The full kit is available from:

https://www.tregaverfibreshop.com/product/yarn-dyeing-kit

You'll also need:

Tongs

Disposable gloves or dishwashing gloves

Spoon

Kitchen roll/towels to mop up any spills

2 metal saucepans or a saucepan and dish / bain marie

Vinegar

Step 1: Rinse Your Yarn Balls

After being spun, there is sometimes some dust or remaining lanolin in yarn, and to get best results from dyeing, you want clean, well washed yarn.

Soak them in hot water, pushing them under the water to get the air out, continue pressing down until yarn stops producing air bubbles.

Step 2: Wash and Soak Yarn

Add a tiny amount of wool safe laundry detergent (around 1/4 tsp for most brands will be well enough)

Let your balls soak in the soapy water for around 15 mins

Then run under hot running water to ensure all detergent has been removed

Step 3: Soak Before Dyeing

You'll need around 2 pints of very hot water, and add in 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar

Squeeze all the remaining water from the balls, then place into your container

Add in your 2 pints of very hot water, with the vinegar mixed in, and let balls sit for 15 mins, turn over, and then for another 15 mins.

Step 4: Prepare Your Bain Marie/heat Source

I use a metal saucepan and a pyrex type deep dish for this step.

Put a pint of water into a metal saucepan, and bring to the boil

Step 5: Sprinkle Your Dye

Using a teaspoon and the strainer, place a small amount of dye into the strainer and shake it across the dye

You'll need around 1/4 teaspoon for the top of the balls, so reserve the remaining 1/4 for step 8

Step 6: Place Dye Bath on Bain Marie

Carefully place your dye dish/pan on top of your pan of boiling water

Lower heat of the boiling water until it's just a soft simmer

Step 7: Squash the Balls, Leave for 15 Mins

Using a teaspoon, or tongs, gently press the dye down into the yarn

Leave the yarn in your dye pan for 15 mins

Do check that the water level in your bain marie is not disappearing, and add more water in if needed.

Step 8: Turn the Balls, Repeat Sprinkles

Using tongs, carefully turn over the balls, so the already dyed side sits in the water/dye mix

Use the rest of your dye to sprinkle across the other side, (as in step 5)

Leave for a further 15 mins

Step 9: Remove Balls and Rinse

Using tongs, carefully remove the balls from your dye bath into another container (for instance a washing up bowl)

CAUTION - your dye bath and yarn will be really hot at this point so do take the proper precautions when dealing with hot fluids

Run your hot tap into your bowl, and place the yarn underneath

You may want to keep this dye water to do another batch - just remember the colours will be less vibrant than your first batch! - normally we would leave the yarn in the dye bath until the dye is exhausted, but in this method there will still be some active dye pigments in your rinse water, so you can bottle it to use later, or even freeze it!

Step 10: Wash Balls Thoroughly and Dry

Once you've completed step 9, continue to allow water to run through the balls until the water runs clear

Then refill your container, with around 1/2 tsp of wool safe detergent, allow yarn to soak for 5 mins

Rinse balls thoroughly until there is no coloured water coming out from them at all

You'll need to ensure your yarn is completely dry before using it.

Place it in a warm, well ventilated area, such as an airing cupboard, and allow to completely dry.

Step 11: Congratulations! You've Dyed Your First Yarn for Your Project!

You can keep the dried yarn in the balls, or you can unwind them into a hank and hand twist them. Or make them into yarn cakes using a ball winder!

This step depends on your preferred way to use the yarn - if you prefer working from a ball, leave it as is, or wind to a cake, or hand twist into hanks