Dying Yarn With Kool Aid

Dying yarn with kool aid and can be a bit surprising if you've never attempted it before. Kool Aid has all different colors to choose from and the process is very simple.

We purchased a skein of bare yarn from Knit Picks. Bare yarn refers to yarn that is undyed. Bare yarn can be purchased there for a small sum of money. That is great because if the yarn doesn't come out the colors hoped for...its easier to deal with mentally because there is not much money out on yarn.

Soak the bare yarn in warm water taking care not to tangle the yarn up.

While the yarn is soaking the Kool Aid colors can be mixed up. We used 3 quart jars and mixed 4 pack of Kool Aid in each jar with a big spoon of vinegar.

Heat a big pot of water on the stove. I brought the water to a boil then backed it off to a simmer. I used one of my pressure canners but any pot that can be filled to around the shoulder of the quart jar can be used.

We tied the yarn off twice to create 3 sections of yarn.

Set the quart jars of Kool Aid into the pot and carefully (so nobody gets a splash of HOT water) put one section of yarn into each jar.

Let the yarn sit in the jars until the color has all been absorbed by the yarn. The color will actually leave the water and the water will be fairly clear or sometimes have a milky look to it.

Take the yarn out of the water and place it in a sink of cold water to set the dye. We let the yarn sit for around 15 minutes.

Gently squeeze excess water out of yarn and hang to dry.

Roll it into a ball. Knit it up. :)