Gina Rockenwagner

Posted on: Marshmallow DK SalcantayFebruary 13, 2021

How to Dye a Valentine’s Day Yarn on Superwash Merino Wool

Learn how to dye a Valentine’s day themed color on our Marshmallow DK yarn! This confection is bound to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

MATERIALS

• 3 skeins of Knomad MARSHMALLOW DK  yarn – 100% Superwash Merino Wool. We designed this project for MARSHMALLOW, but it would also work well on any of our yarns with superwash merino, like STEAM, MAGNOLIA, SNOWDRIFT, EGGSHELL, SALCANTAY, and SANDSTONE.
• Dharma Trading co dye for silk and wool. I used the colors VALENTINE BLUSH, PINK ORCHID, FAWN, and FLOURESCENT FUCSIA.
• Gram scale
• 3 cups to mix the dye in
• Citric acid powder
• Metal chafing pan at least 3 inches deep – We need to dye in something with a lot of surface area in order to get nice speckles.
• A measuring spoon. Any size will work.
• Your regular set up for heat setting yarn
• A small sieve you don’t use for food
• Optional: zip ties

SOAK THE YARN

Loop a zip tie around each skein of yarn, if you are using them. Soak the yarn in lukewarm water with a dash of citric acid for about 1 hour.

MIX AND MEASURE THE DYE

Make sure to always protect yourself with gloves and a respirator whenever you work with dye in its powder form. A dust mask is not enough protection to safely work with dye powder!

1st CUP – 6 grams VALENTINE BLUSH + 1 gram citric acid + 3 cups hot water

2nd CUP – 1 gram FAWN + 1 gram PINK ORCHID + 2 grams citric acid 

Use the measuring spoon to mix the dye powder and citric acid powder together

3rd CUP – .5 gram FLOURESCENT FUCIA + 3 cups hot water

DYE THE YARN

Remove each skein from the soaking liquid, gently squeezing the excess liquid out of the yarn. You want it to be damp, but not sopping wet. Place the three skeins side by side in the pan, pressing them down and spreading out the skeins so as much surface area as possible is exposed.  Your yarn should look like the image above. Add 2 cups of the soaking liquid to the pan with the yarn.

Pour the contents of the first cup over the yarn, placing the color where you want it to go. I tried to create a gradient effect by pouring the dye more heavily on the bottom skein graduating to just a light sprinkle on the top.

Grab your sieve and pour the contents of the second cup through the sieve and on to the yarn. We are making speckles with this step, so I tried to place them on bare areas of the yarn so they would show up better.

Cover the pan and heat the yarn for 10-15 minutes. Remove the cover and allow the yarn to cool to the touch.

FLIP THE YARN

Using gloved hands, flip each skein over so the other side is facing up.

ADD THE NEON PINK

Pour the contents of the third cup over the yarn, placing the neon pink as desired.

Cover the pan and heat the yarn for 10-15 minutes. Remove the cover and allow the yarn to cool completely.

RINSE AND DRY

Rinse and dry the yarn as you normally would.

Enjoy your finished yarn! Make sure to tag us using #Knomadyarn so we can see all your fabulous projects.