Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Tunis turned out beautiful bright white!
I was a bit frustrated that I was not able to get the tips ungunked. Then after doing some reading up on Ravelry I got the idea to do an ammonia wash. I did another wash this time adding some ammonia to the water. Then I did a few rinses, adding vinegar to the last. I also left it to soak in its final rinse overnight.
After drying and combing out the tips the wool is a bright beautiful white. I was very happy with the result.
After drying and combing out the tips the wool is a bright beautiful white. I was very happy with the result.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The 3 batches of wool have dried
I was very surprised to find this to be true when my husband told me. I have thought over the past few days and I think I can see some areas where I could have improved my experience already.
I think starting with a presoak is a good thing. I will probably be doing this in the future. I will also probably do smaller batches at a time. I say probably because I tend to get all excited about an idea and go big. It is hard for me to think small in most cases. I just think that the wool would have required fewer washings/rinses if I had not only done a presoak but also did smaller batches per tub.
I could have skirted much better. I will do a better job next time! I am learning questions to ask future places that I buy my fleeces. These are coming not only from myself but also from the groups I belong to on Ravelry. Good info available there.
I will post more on the particular fleeces later when I have some new pics to go with them.
I think starting with a presoak is a good thing. I will probably be doing this in the future. I will also probably do smaller batches at a time. I say probably because I tend to get all excited about an idea and go big. It is hard for me to think small in most cases. I just think that the wool would have required fewer washings/rinses if I had not only done a presoak but also did smaller batches per tub.
I could have skirted much better. I will do a better job next time! I am learning questions to ask future places that I buy my fleeces. These are coming not only from myself but also from the groups I belong to on Ravelry. Good info available there.
I will post more on the particular fleeces later when I have some new pics to go with them.
Got woken up abruptly about 5:30 am
The cat had jumped into the window going crazy because it was raining. He is scared of the rain. My husband immediately pointed out it was raining and I should go check my wool. I think I started wailing a bit at that point.
I am so glad he thinks clearly when he first wakes up. I do not, which is why during the course of bringing my drying racks in from the balcony to the bathroom I ran right into the glass doors, forehead first.
We got all the racks into the bathroom. Thankfully they are the stackable kind so they are all stacked into the tub. I am equally glad my husband was helping me because I was all fumble fingers trying to get the legs into the wholes on the rack and almost dumped it over.
The roving and yarn are now hanging up over the edge of the shower rod. The cat had to be chased out of the bathroom about 3 times during this process because he is curious and wanted to jump up on the racks. The door is now closed and I turned the over head hot light on in the tub. I dont know that it will help but I figure it wont hurt.
I am so frustrated. It was almost dry. I had plans to pick it apart today, the wool. It got damp with the rain. Should I rewash it all? Should I just continue drying it? This is not how I had wanted to wake up.
I am so glad he thinks clearly when he first wakes up. I do not, which is why during the course of bringing my drying racks in from the balcony to the bathroom I ran right into the glass doors, forehead first.
We got all the racks into the bathroom. Thankfully they are the stackable kind so they are all stacked into the tub. I am equally glad my husband was helping me because I was all fumble fingers trying to get the legs into the wholes on the rack and almost dumped it over.
The roving and yarn are now hanging up over the edge of the shower rod. The cat had to be chased out of the bathroom about 3 times during this process because he is curious and wanted to jump up on the racks. The door is now closed and I turned the over head hot light on in the tub. I dont know that it will help but I figure it wont hurt.
I am so frustrated. It was almost dry. I had plans to pick it apart today, the wool. It got damp with the rain. Should I rewash it all? Should I just continue drying it? This is not how I had wanted to wake up.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Teal Dyed Wool and Yarn - Stove top (batch 2)
Since I still had plenty of dye in the water and I did not want to waste it I added another cup of vinegar and turned the burned back up to 7. Then I went looking for other stuff to dye. The second batch contained: 2.25oz of Cordial, a skein of 3.3 oz and approximately 150 yards of Riverstone Wool Yarn that is very soft, and a 4oz skein of a smooth blank wool yarn.
I added each item one at a time with no presoak. I let each one settle in before adding the next. The first in was the 3.3oz skein, next the 4oz skein and finally the cordial roving. I turned the burner off and covered it with a lid and left it alone.
The second batch sat for a good 30 minutes (and then some as I was dealing with the washing of the Tunis in between) maybe more like 45 minutes. I ended up putting it back on the burner about half way through to maintain the heat keeping it on low. This time the dye exhausted so I only needed one wash and 2 rinses.
I used the Unicorn Power Scour in the wash, the first rinse got the Unicorn Fiber Rinse, the last rinse was just tap water. I rolled them individually in the towel and put them on the rack to dry. This is what I have so far.
Teal Dyed Wool and Yarn - Stove top (batch 1)
Yesterday I also dyed up a pot or two of teal items. I used Jacquard acid dye in the color Teal. I actually did end up doing 2 batches because I used too much dye.
I did a hot presoak in 6 quarts of water and 1.5 cups of vinegar. I soaked for about 10 minutes (ok it was probably a bit more because I was also washing the wool). The 1st batch contained: 2.5oz of a natural brown BFL roving, 1.13oz of Near Mear roving, 2.13oz of Lincoln roving, and 3.25oz of Coopworth roving.
Next I used a strainer and drained the vinegar water mix into my big 12 quart stainless steel pot. I turned the burner on to a 7 out of 10. Once the water was starting to simmer I added the whole 1/2oz jar of teal. I mixed it in well and then added the wool. I moved it around only enough to make sure it was all coated and freely floating. I turned it to low and pretty much left it for 30 min.
Of course the water was still heavy with dye because I used to much, which is were the 2nd batch came in. I poured the dye pot into the bucket I had used originally for the presoak with a strainer on top to catch the wool. Pour slowly, I got a bit impatient and sloshed it. Once the everything was in the bucket, I put the stainer into another bucket I have for dyeing. I poured the dye back into the pot and put it back on the stove to use again.
I filled the bucket up with hot water and then added 3 squirts of the Unicorn Power Scour. I added the wool and let it soak for 20 minutes. I rinsed by pouring out the bucket through the strainer, letting it drain and then refilling the bucket with fresh water. To the first rinse I added Unicorn Fiber rinse, 3 squirts. Then I added roving back into bucket. The first batch needed a lot of rinses. I really should have used less dye to begin with. All the other rinses were just plain lukewarm tap water.
After draining I rolled the individual rovings up inside a towel to get rid of the excess water and then sat them out to dry. Here is how they look this morning 1)BFL 2)Near Mear 3)Lincoln 4)Coopworth
I did a hot presoak in 6 quarts of water and 1.5 cups of vinegar. I soaked for about 10 minutes (ok it was probably a bit more because I was also washing the wool). The 1st batch contained: 2.5oz of a natural brown BFL roving, 1.13oz of Near Mear roving, 2.13oz of Lincoln roving, and 3.25oz of Coopworth roving.
Next I used a strainer and drained the vinegar water mix into my big 12 quart stainless steel pot. I turned the burner on to a 7 out of 10. Once the water was starting to simmer I added the whole 1/2oz jar of teal. I mixed it in well and then added the wool. I moved it around only enough to make sure it was all coated and freely floating. I turned it to low and pretty much left it for 30 min.
Of course the water was still heavy with dye because I used to much, which is were the 2nd batch came in. I poured the dye pot into the bucket I had used originally for the presoak with a strainer on top to catch the wool. Pour slowly, I got a bit impatient and sloshed it. Once the everything was in the bucket, I put the stainer into another bucket I have for dyeing. I poured the dye back into the pot and put it back on the stove to use again.
I filled the bucket up with hot water and then added 3 squirts of the Unicorn Power Scour. I added the wool and let it soak for 20 minutes. I rinsed by pouring out the bucket through the strainer, letting it drain and then refilling the bucket with fresh water. To the first rinse I added Unicorn Fiber rinse, 3 squirts. Then I added roving back into bucket. The first batch needed a lot of rinses. I really should have used less dye to begin with. All the other rinses were just plain lukewarm tap water.
After draining I rolled the individual rovings up inside a towel to get rid of the excess water and then sat them out to dry. Here is how they look this morning 1)BFL 2)Near Mear 3)Lincoln 4)Coopworth
That is some dirty water!
My husband took a look at my last blog and said that. He saw it drying to so he knows it cleaned up a lot. I have to say I really did learn things yesterday.
Most important thing, do not attempt to pick up a pan of dirty water to pour in the toilet. The pans I am using are too flimsy and it spilled. After I cleaned up that mess I just kept going. Do not forget what you are doing and put the detergent in first and then the water. It makes the water way sudsy. My water heater does not get hot enough. The water from the tap is about 120degrees at the hottest so all pans of water needed 1 to 2 pots of boiling water added to them to bring the temp up. I washed them all at 140 degrees and rinsed them with the hot tap only.
I also understand why people use washers. I now want one that is top loading. I figure I can pick up an older model somewhere for reasonable if I keep my eye out. Also I had to open all the windows yesterday because the house smelled like I had been washing large dirty dogs. In the past when I have washed wool it was always in smaller amounts. Yesterday was the most wool I have done in one day ever. I believe I could have accomplished what took me all day yesterday in about half the time with a washer.
Today my back and joints are killing me. I think it was all the bending, lifting, going up and down our 3 sets of stairs all day. I washed the wool in our bathroom on the 3rd floor. I had to get my supplies from the garage down stairs. The wool itself was set out to dry on the porch on the 2nd floor balcony. I am anxious to see the results from yesterday but I am going to finish my cup of tea first.
Most important thing, do not attempt to pick up a pan of dirty water to pour in the toilet. The pans I am using are too flimsy and it spilled. After I cleaned up that mess I just kept going. Do not forget what you are doing and put the detergent in first and then the water. It makes the water way sudsy. My water heater does not get hot enough. The water from the tap is about 120degrees at the hottest so all pans of water needed 1 to 2 pots of boiling water added to them to bring the temp up. I washed them all at 140 degrees and rinsed them with the hot tap only.
I also understand why people use washers. I now want one that is top loading. I figure I can pick up an older model somewhere for reasonable if I keep my eye out. Also I had to open all the windows yesterday because the house smelled like I had been washing large dirty dogs. In the past when I have washed wool it was always in smaller amounts. Yesterday was the most wool I have done in one day ever. I believe I could have accomplished what took me all day yesterday in about half the time with a washer.
Today my back and joints are killing me. I think it was all the bending, lifting, going up and down our 3 sets of stairs all day. I washed the wool in our bathroom on the 3rd floor. I had to get my supplies from the garage down stairs. The wool itself was set out to dry on the porch on the 2nd floor balcony. I am anxious to see the results from yesterday but I am going to finish my cup of tea first.