Altering the Color of Wool

Changing the Color of Your Woolens

Wool comes in glorious colors, and some not so glorious colors! Don’t ever pass up a good piece of wool just because you don’t like the color. You want to constantly be building your stash of wool, and in time you may want to start overdying them to achieve exactly the colors you need for a project.

In the meantime, there are ways to change those ugly or not-quite-right woolens to get the colors you need for your hooking projects.

Learning to Marry the Colors of WoolensIf you have several red pieces of wool and you need more than one red for a project, but the reds you have just don’t look good together, you can marry them! Here’s how:If you have several red pieces of wool and you need more than one red for a project, but the reds you have just don’t look good together, you can marry them! Here’s how:Put all those pieces of wool into a pot of warm water with about 1 Tbls detergent. (You might want to save a little “before” piece of each wool for your records.) Put the pot on the stove and let it simmer (I usually go for about 20 minutes). The woolens will each release a bit of their dye, then all the dye colors in the solution blend together, so that the fabrics will become new shades that go well together. When a decent amount of dye is released into the water (or after at least 20 minutes in the pot simmering) you need to set those dyes back into the fabrics. Pour about 1/3 cup white vinegar into the pot, give it a stir, then let is all simmer for another 20 minutes. Pour it all into the sink, allow the wool to cool slightly, then rinse in clear water. Put the wool in your washer and let it go through a cold rinse and a spin cycle, then dry in the dryer with a towel and a dryer sheet. All those colors will now look much better when used together in your rug!

If you have several red pieces of wool and you need more than one red for a project, but the reds you have just don’t look good together, you can marry them! Here’s how:Put all those pieces of wool into a pot of warm water with about 1 Tbls detergent. (You might want to save a little “before” piece of each wool for your records.) Put the pot on the stove and let it simmer (I usually go for about 20 minutes). The woolens will each release a bit of their dye, then all the dye colors in the solution blend together, so that the fabrics will become new shades that go well together. When a decent amount of dye is released into the water (or after at least 20 minutes in the pot simmering) you need to set those dyes back into the fabrics. Pour about 1/3 cup white vinegar into the pot, give it a stir, then let is all simmer for another 20 minutes. Pour it all into the sink, allow the wool to cool slightly, then rinse in clear water. Put the wool in your washer and let it go through a cold rinse and a spin cycle, then dry in the dryer with a towel and a dryer sheet. All those colors will now look much better when used together in your rug!You can do the same thing with woolens of different colors. If you have a bright blue that you want to tone down, just marry it with a piece of orange wool (its complementary color on the color wheel)— the blue and orange will marry to yield two pieces of different colored, but complementary wools that will be less bright and usable for the same project. If you are not sure about complementary colors, check this web site for an example of a color wheel; complementary colors lie directly across the wheel from one another.

1 comment May 24th, 2006

Beginner Sewing Patterns

For those of us who craft or sew, using sewing patterns can seem a little daunting task to learn the how to use them especially when you are just beginning to learn.  There are symbols which represent very important stuff, but somehow is quite well decoded.  However, there is hope with smaller pattern companies like Sew Fast Sew Easy.

While I have to admit I have taken sewing lessons at Sew Fast Sew Easy, I found their patterns very easy right after completing my first class.  They provide a challenge and a great fit.  In a scurry to get together my summer wardrobe, I have made a drawstring pant in light-weight linen using their drawstring pant pattern and am currently working on the large tote bag pattern.   

I am next moving onto their 1/4 circle skirt pattern and their online learning video with the pattern for a makeup bag.  I would love to take one of these to the beach.  This company stands out to me for its cutting edge products.  If you can’t make it to one of their NYC classes, don’t worry.  They have two well written and wonderful books.  However, I have my eyes on their next t-shirt class. 

I know that you will love Sew Fast Sew Easy as much as I do.

1 comment May 24th, 2006