What Sock Yarn Dyeing Classes do you teach?

By Amelia

I have a ball setting up my dye workshop to teach a series of dye classes on a variety of topics. Sock yarns are always popular (since I teach these at sock knitting machine retreats!) however these can be tuned to worsted weight yarns, spinning fibers, and more. Each class is 1/2 day, so combine two for a day-long workshop on sock yarn dyeing. Taught at my studio, regular workshop fees apply.

I am teaching several yarn dyeing classes this summer at Heels Over Toes, the CSMSA 2009 Conference in June in Tacoma -- you needn't knit on a sock machine to attend! They will be selected from these by the organizers, to fit in the 1/2 day class format I requested :-)

Open dyeing is also fun -- if you'd like me to come and set up my dye pots and be concierge for general wool or protein fiber dyeing, I'm happy to run an open dyeing workshop as well. Dyeing cotton and bamboo fibers? we can talk about that, too!

For dyeing, we need electric power in the room, a nearby water source -- in another room is fine, we can rinse in buckets -- large tables (estimating 2-4 students per table usually works okay), and access to an outside door, so we can safely dispose of exhaust water. I bring plastic for floors and tables, plenty of tape to hold it all down and keep the room clean & dry.

Rainbow Dyeing

Do you buy lottery tickets? Let's roll the dice with dyes -- turn three colors into a rainbow witht his chance dye method. Bring 4 oz. of undyed sock yarn - wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. All dye tools and materials supplied. If you have a one-yard or two-yard skeiner, pre-skein your yarn; otherwise, bring a center-pull ball or cone. Dye it in class and knit your socks the next day!

Photo shows pencil roving in the dyepot (working on a sock yarn photo shoot...)

Skill level: any.
Material fee: $6 (dyes, dye tools to use during class, handout)
Students bring: 4 oz. of undyed sock yarn - wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. If you have a one-yard or two-yard skeiner, pre-skein your yarn; otherwise, bring a center-pull ball or cone.

Shadow Dyeing

Create fun effects in yarn, pool color on purpose, and just plain play with color -- come dye with me! Bring 4 oz. of undyed sock yarn - wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. All dye tools and materials supplied. If you have a 5-foot skeiner, pre-skein your yarn; otherwise, bring a center-pull ball or cone. Dye it in class and knit your socks the next day!

Picture shows shadow dyeing on left, self-patterning sock yarn on the right.

Skill level: any.
Material fee: $6 (dyes, dye tools to use during class, handout)
Students bring: 4 oz. of undyed sock yarn - wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. If you have a five foot skeiner, pre-skein your yarn; otherwise, bring a center-pull ball or cone.

Self-patterning sock yarns

Want to make your own special self-striping sock yarns? Have a sense of color not found in Opal or Regia? Create your own stripes! We'll discuss the "math" of striping and then wind and paint our skeins to make them stripe our way. Bring 4 oz. of undyed sock yarn in a center-pull ball or cone - wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. All dye tools and materials supplied. Dye it in class and knit your socks the next day!

Note: this class is typically best as an afternoon class, so we can take our time winding skeins and re-winding them after dyeing.

Picture above shows shadow dyeing on left, self-patterning sock yarn on the right.

Skill level: any.
Material fee: $6 (dyes, dye tools to use during class, handout)
Students bring: 4 oz. of undyed sock yarn - wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. Bring a center-pull ball or cone.

Tube Dyeing

Become your own Matisse -- dye a tube of sock yarn and watch it metamorphose into art when it's recranked into socks the next day. Bring 4 oz. of sock yarn already cranked under loose tension into a tube. If your machine can handle it and you want twin socks, crank your tube with 2 strands together. Note, wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. All dye tools and materials supplied. Dye it in class and knit your socks the next day!

Skill level: any.
Material fee: $6 (dyes, dye tools to use during class, handout)
Students bring: 4 oz. of sock yarn already cranked under loose tension into a tube. These can be supplied by the instructor, additional fee applies. If your machine can handle it and you want twin socks, crank your tube with 2 strands together. Note, wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not.

Overdyeing

Turn ho-hum into yum with overdyeing! Bring 4 oz. sock yarn how you like -- already knit socks, knit tube, or skein (we'll skein up center pull balls or cones) plus a few yards of the same yarn, loose. We'll discuss color changes, test target colors, and then overdye for a whole new look. Note, wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not. All dye tools and materials supplied. Dye it in class and knit (or wear!) your socks the next day!

Picture shows overdyed skein on left; other dyeing on the right (self-patterning and 3 solid colors)

Skill level: any.
Material fee: $6 (dyes, dye tools to use during class, handout)
Students bring: 4 oz. of sock yarn how you like -- already knit socks, knit tube, or skein (we'll skein up center pull balls or cones) plus a few yards of the same yarn, loose. Note, wool, nylon, silk, or other animal fiber will take the dye; bamboo, tencel, or cotton will not.

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posted 28 February 2009 at http://askthebellwether.blogspot.com/