How to Dye Knitted Items in Your Kitchen

First, you want to get your materials together. You need some Kool-Aid (or coffee) in your chosen color. For the bright red dino, we used 3 packs of pink lemonade, 1 pack cherry, and 1/3 pack tropical punch (because it looked too pink to me.) For the brown, i used 3 scoops of Folgers in the red can. You need white vinegar, water, a bowl, a strainer, and a stainless steel pot. (and, your item to be dyed, but that's kind of a duh thing.)

Okay. So, first. take your wool knitted items, and soak them in hot tap water.

While they're soaking, get your stainless steel pot, and add your color. Then add your vinegar and water. I like to do 2 parts vinegar to 2 parts water, it seems to make it more color fast. And you wanna make sure you've got enough liquid to totally cover your items. It's always good to have more than you think you need. Mix everything together in the pot, and turn the heat on. You wanna bring it to that fizzy, just below a boil point.

Once you've got the dye nice and piping hot, take your knitted items from their hot water, squeeze out the excess water, and gently put them into the pot. Gently, because heat and agitation make wool felt, and if you don't want a felted item, you've got to be gentle. Stir them around a little bit, make sure they're getting all their knitty bits covered in yummy dye.

Now, since you're already in the kitchen, load the dishwasher, or start dinner or something, because you've got a while to wait while your knitted stuff simmers. About 20-40 minutes, depending. Stir it occasionally, it helps to ensure an even dye, and it quenches your curiosity about the process so far. Or, if you're a slacker like me, set a timer, throw a lid on it, lower the heat to that nebulous point between low and medium, and watch TV and knit something new till the timer beeps. Now, the timer has sounded, and the moment of truth has arrived. Turn off the stove. Lift out your knitted stuff, to see how it looks so far.

At this point, your dye bath should look clear or milky. (or like weak tea, if you used coffee). Turn on your hot water, and let it run to it's hottest setting. Put the strainer in the sink. Pour the dye/yarn into the strainer, and then rinse the yarn under the tap, gradually decreasing the water temp to something you can comfortably handle. Once you can handle the wool, go ahead and GENTLY (felting is still a concern) wash the items with wool wash, baby soap, or a mild dish detergent to get all of the excess dye water out, so they won't bleed all over everything when they get wet. Rinse till the water runs clear, or until you have to pee. Squish out the excess water, and hang to dry. Or if they're tiny knitted things, lay flat in a place where they'll get air circulation.

Wait for them to dry, then seam/sew/stuff/wear/whatever as usual. See? Easy, peasy.