Color Experiment

I tried something new on some sock yarn the other day. I did I guess what you'd call some "space dyeing." I used glass jars in a roaster (one used only for that purpose...no cooking in it afterward!). I bought this roaster on sale not too long ago and thought I'd give it a try. The other crock pot I'd been using was pretty small, and this one gives me a little more room to work. Usually I lay the yarn or roving out on plastic wrap and "paint" the dye on with squirt bottles. Then it's wrapped and placed in the crock pot to heat and set the dye. This time I filled the glass jars with dye and pushed the yarn down into the jars. (I actually meant to do it the other way around but was so excited to try it I forgot and poured the dye first. See how I am?) Anyway here's how it looked in the dyepot:

I think I'm going to like this method. I did a few handfuls of roving yesterday to maybe make some needle felted lavender sachets with. Those I just put in each jar separately. Here they are:

The colors came out really bright. I'm thinking more of the dye stays where it's supposed to, and the yarn or roving can take up more of it that way. Also, you don't have to worry as much about the colors running together which can sometimes happen with the plastic wrap. I'm getting ready to do another batch of sock yarn today after dinner, and am going to use the jars for it. We'll have to wait and see how it comes out.

I've been spinning some more on the roving I showed you awhile back. I was going to show you a picture of one of the skeins, but for some reason this thing won't let me add an image now. Maybe next time. There should be four small skeins of it. I'm hoping there will be close to 300 yards. I'll let you know. :)