Learn to dye your own custom yarns with three techniques: semi-solid, hand painted, and self-striping. We will dye mini-skeins using each technique during class as samples, then dye an additional skein (wool, alpaca, silk) for your own project. Learn the basics of using acid dyes on protein fibers, tips for making sure your dyes are colorfast, and how to plan and create the yarn you want.

Hand-dyeing your own fibers can be intimidating. How do you know which dye to use?  Heat or no heat? Salt? Acid? This class will break it down into the chemistry you need to know. Using commercial dyes, we will dye small samples of yarn and fabrics in cotton, silk, nylon, wool and more. Get the specifics for which dye to use when, the process you need for each kind of fiber, how to get the colors and effects you want and most especially how to work with dyes in ways that are safe and earth-friendly. Finally, learn some troubleshooting techniques for when things don’t come out the way you envisioned and dispel some dyers “old wives’ tales”.