My dyes from Dharma Trading Company arrived yesterday. The roll of merino wool-lycra blend probably won’t be coming until next week or later, so I decided to try out the dye on one of the merino wool baselayer shirt I already made for Jeff.
I tried black first.
The garment has to simmer for 30 minutes in the dye-water-vinegar mixture.
Then after cooling it, rinsing it, and a hand wash-gentle spin cycle in my front loading washing machine, the now black shirt is laying to dry.
The white threads didn’t take to the dye. I like it that way, with the contrasting thread color. I think Jeff will, too. He usually likes me to use white coverstitching on black garments. The black dye does look uneven and I think it is because I didn’t constantly poke down the wool into the dye-water during the 30 minute simmer.
But those are minimal concerns; I’m really happy with the results. And economical, just like Dharma Trading claims –it cost us 37 cents to dye that shirt. That includes the shipping costs and is based on me purchasing a pound of the dye. I only used one-quarter of an ounce of that pound to dye the shirt, so there is plenty left for future garments.
In the future, I plan to do my dyeing before my cutting and sewing. That way I don’t have to worry about shrinkage from the heat of the dyeing process. If there was any shrinking today, it was minimal, thank goodness.
I am experimenting with the other color of dye that I purchased. I put uncut, unsewn leftover merino wool (about 1 pound of it) in to simmer with the olive green dye in the same manner.
The wool came out too much of an orange-y brown, so Naomi and I dyed it again, in a second dose of the olive brown. My thinking is that if it is darker, the brown will be richer instead of brighter (and therefore, less orange). It is cooling down right now. Then I’ll rinse it and put it in the washer on a hand wash cycle. I can tell that the brown is more pleasing, but it still seems orange-ish. I’m not sure if I’ll like it for the long-term.
With this brown wool, I am going to (practice) making beanie hats and ear warmer/headbands.
Could you tell me where you get your merino wool lycra blend fabric? Is it itchy?
Thanks!
Pam Groom
Pam, I get it through a yahoo group. There’s a lady who does group buys several times per year. It is not itchy at all. It is amazing! I usually get the 100% merino.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturesfabrics/
Thanks Wardeh! Is this merino interlock warmer than bamboo interlock? and have you tried silk interlock? I have yet to find that either. I too have a favorite T-shirt pattern that I use for all my homemade pullovers. It’s an old Burda pattern that has cap sleeves that best compliment my small shoulders.
Pam
Pam, this merino interlock (and the merino/lycra blend) is like a light sweater weight. I make base-layer (thick) t-shirts and mid-layer lightweight sweaters out of it. It is not bulky, so layers up well. But it is not as thin as the silk which I’ve seen for long underwear.
I have not used silk interlock, so I can’t really compare it.
With regard to the bamboo jersey (I’ve not used interlock) that I have used it is very lightweight, like t-shirt weight. So, the wool I use is warmer than the bamboo, but this is mostly due to weight.
The lady who runs the yahoo group offers lighter weight merino from time to time, either interlock or jersey. I have bought some of the nicest t-shirt weight brown merino and have some lovely tank tops and t-shirts. It isn’t shiny or anything so I’ve made my husband t-shirts out of it, too.
The lightweight bamboo has become summer t-shirts and tanks for all of us. I wear my bamboo as a baselayer in winter, like long-underwear. I wrote about it here: http://suchtreasures.com/2009/09/10/amazing-bamboo-fabric/
It is so fun to talk fabric with you!
I ordered some wool from the site you suggested! I’m always cold in the winter (Michigan) so I’m hoping this helps. Have you ever made homemade wool slippers from felted slippers? I LOVE these. I wear them inside the house and outside when wearing my oversized cowboy boots. Keeps my toes warm! Here is the link I used for inspiration:
http://www.homemade-holiday-gifts.com/felted-slippers.html
Pam — I’m so happy you’re trying this!
I have not made slippers, but it has long been on my wish list. Thanks for the link. In my opinion, this wool won’t felt that heavily for slippers. Well, at least after 2 washes/dries on hot. It is still soft and stretchy. I will be curious to hear how you like it! It is sooo wonderful for layering up, light-weight sweaters, t-shirts, pajama pants, etc.
P.S. Don’t know if you saw, but these are my t-shirts from this wool:
http://suchtreasures.com/2008/11/29/my-very-own-merino-wool-baselayer-shirts/
And here are Jeff’s t-shirts:
http://suchtreasures.com/2008/01/14/first-wool-base-layer/
And here is a summary of my merino wool projects (though it might be a little out of date):
http://suchtreasures.com/2008/09/19/my-sewing-projects-using-merino-wool-interlock-and-jersey/
Yes, I saw all your wool projects! I read them over and over to try to figure out which wool I should buy. Thanks!
The slippers I make are out of old wool sweaters that I buy at the thrift store. A thick 100% man’s sweater is the best as it felts really thick once washed. (It makes a fuzz ball mess, so it needs to be done by itself.) The resulting felt varies in thickness depending on the sweater. I have yet to perfect the heels of the slipper. I have a problem with the heels and toes wearing out with use. Right now I’m using leather and suede and fake leather to reinforce a completed slipper bottom. I’m using glue to adhere the leather bottoms because hand stitching doesn’t last. I may try the sewing machine next. My treadle machine might be able to handle the leather if my standard straight stitch machine can’t.
I vary how I do the top edge of the slipper. Making a cotton interlock band is my favorite. Kind of like the finishing on a standard T-shirt neck hole. This grips the foot better than Mary Jane style instep strap, in my experience.
Pam