How to Dye Yarn with Simple, Affordable Supplies
If you have a stash of white yarn and want to knit something colorful and bright, this dyeing method will come in handy.
For dyeing we'll use the Kool Aid dye for wool and textiles, which should first be dissolved in a small amount of water and poured into ice cube trays.
Soak the white yarn in warm water with vinegar, then squeeze it well (this takes a few minutes, until the yarn cools). Transfer the damp yarn strands to a glass container and arrange the colorful ice pieces on top in any order.
Leave the yarn in a warm place (you can even put it in the sun) for several hours. After some time the yarn will develop this kind of color.
As soon as the ice has completely melted, cover the container with plastic wrap and leave it for a few more hours in a warm place so the color can "set" into the yarn. After 2–3 hours move the yarn to a cooler place (but not the fridge 🙃) until it cools completely. Then rinse the yarn and add a color fixative. In this case Eucalan was used as the fixative, but you can use any you’re used to.
If you notice the dye running during rinsing, stop immediately, cover the container with plastic wrap and put the yarn to "steam" in the microwave for a few minutes. After all procedures, allow the yarn to dry and you can begin knitting.
If you have like-minded people who spend every free minute knitting, you could team up and buy a few shades of dye and fixative together. And if you want to get such dye yourself but aren't sure what to use it on after dyeing yarn, these dyes work well for dyeing fabrics and woolen garments. So you can give old items a new lease on life!