dye experiments

Late July (has it really been that long ago?) seemed the ideal time for some dye experiments.  With three and a bit skeins of some KnitPicks Lindy Chain in the color Swan remaining from a gift knit, the time was ripe to use those bags of avocado pits and skins I'd been storing in the freezer for the past year.  I don't wear bright white, not only because doesn't flatter my coloring, but also because I am a disaster with food.  Mustard, tomatoes, tea...whatever I'm eating, I'm usually wearing.  I do wear ballet pink, though!  

To make the dye bath, I simmered the pits and skins together for about an hour.  I can't remember.  They were pretty dirty--I hadn't done a good job of cleaning the flesh from them, so I strained out the liquid using an old, white tea towel and discarded all the solid junk.  Rather than pitch the stained tea towel too, I threw it into the bath with the yarn.  And maybe a cup of salt?  I let it soak in overnight and was left with three and a bit peachy-pink skeins of yarn and a clay/ballet pink tea towel.  The photo above doesn't really capture the warmth of the colors.  That tea towel hasn't faded one bit despite all of the subsequent use; it's my favorite.  I'll be repeating this dye experiment in the future, for sure!  I am envisioning a quilt in pink and brown...Must look into walnut?  

Remember that dress I made this summer?   Well, blue dye made it green, and not at all the brown I expected! I chose to use an acid dye (iDye 420-Navy), following the directions on the package.  The resulting color was a gorgeous, warm, vibrant olive green, one that the above picture does not do justice.  I've had several compliments on the dress when I've worn it in public, largely due to the color.