2007-03-29 - 9:41 a.m.

I just got my shipment of superwash undyed yarn in and now it's time to play!

I am starting to dyed my rainbow of colors with onion skins that we saved all winter. I boiled up a pot last night. Phew! Odor is not for the weak of heart. After letting the pot sit outside overnight, I strained it through an old T-shirt.

Today I washed the yarn in dish soap and baking soda to get any nasty spinning fluids (oils) out. I threw a pound into the strained liquid and have that stewing at a simmer on the stove. I am not using any mordants in the first batch. The yarn looks like spagetti in a weak sauce. After that heats for about an hour, I will set it outside to cool. When I worked as an assistant naturalist, I learned that letting it cool is important to get a stronger color. The dye comes out darker or more intense that way. We'll see what happens. Afterward, I am off to Costume Con in St. Louis. Pardon the typos if any, I am writing Cold Turkey without my reading glasses.

Ursula

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