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From 3 to 120 Colours - All Fiber Arts
From 3 to 120 Colours - a dye exercise
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Dyeing From 3 to 120 Colours

This is a dye exercise that allows you to create over 120 dyes using just 3 colours. The 3 prime colours of dye are used - Cyan(Green/Blue), Magenta (Hot Pink) and Yellow. In this project, start with 3 large dyepots of dye. For each dye skein you will add a bit of colour from the other dyepot, to change the shade of color slightly.
Dyepot 1 - Magenta to Cyan
Dyepot 2 - Cyan to Yellow
Dyepot 3 - Yellow to Magenta

The colours will move progressively through the colour chart, changing from one prime colour, until the ending prime colour is reached.

The first time that I did this exercise, I wove all the dye samples into a rya rug.

The Dye Exercise

This is a dye exercise that allows you to create over 120 dyes using just 3 colours. The 3 prime colours of dye are used - Cyan(Green/Blue), Magenta (Hot Pink) and Yellow.

In this dye project, I dyed about 15 lbs. of yarn. I have adjusted the instructions to a smaller amount of yarn. The amount of dye used will vary depending on the type of dyes that you are using. The procedure will be the same.

Repeat this exercise 3 times for the 3 different colour ranges.

Use 1 lb. of yarn for each colour range. Divide the yarn into 40 equal size skeins. Rinse the dye skeins.

You will need 2 large dyepots. Fill each dyepot with 4 litres of water. Add suffficient dye to each to make a fairly strong colour (enough to dye 1 lb of yarn). I used a CIBA acid dye, so I added vinegar to each dyepot to set the dyes.

Magenta to Cyan

Colour Range 1
For Colour Range 1 - I worked from the Magenta dyepot and added a bit of Cyan to change the colour.
Put the Magenta dyepot on the stove and heat until the dye solution is fairly hot. Add 1 dye skein and let it sit in the dye for about 20 minutes. Remove the dye skein, let it cool and rinse in cool water
To create 40 different colours, the second dyepot solution is divided into 40 equal portions.
4 litres of water / 40 = .10 litres each
Using a measuring cup, measure out .10 litres of dye solution (Cyan)
Add .10 litres of Cyan to the Magenta dyepot and stir.
Put the 2nd dye skein into the Magenta dye mixture and let sit for about 20 minutes.
Remove the dye skein, let cool and rinse.
For the 3rd colour, measure another .10 litres of Cyan. Add this to the Magenta dyepot.
Put the 3rd dye skein into the Magenta dyepot. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Remove the dye skein, let cool and rinse.

Repeat this procedure until all 40 skeins have been dyed.

Yellow to Magenta

Colour Range 2 - Yellow to Magenta
For Colour Range 2 - I worked from the Yellow dyepot and added a bit of Magenta to change the colour.
Put the Yellow dyepot on the stove and heat until the dye solution is fairly hot. Add 1 dye skein and let it sit in the dye for about 20 minutes. Remove the dye skein, let it cool and rinse in cool water
To create 40 different colours, the second dyepot solution is divided into 40 equal portions.
4 litres of water / 40 = .10 litres each
Using a measuring cup, measure out .10 litres of dye solution (Magenta)
Add .10 litres of Magenta dye solution to the Yellow dyepot and stir.
Put the 2nd dye skein into the Yellow dye mixture and let sit for about 20 minutes.
Remove the dye skein, let cool and rinse.
For the 3rd colour, measure another .10 litres of Magenta. Add this to the Yellow dyepot.
Put the 3rd dye skein into the Yellow mix dyepot. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Remove the dye skein, let cool and rinse.
Repeat this procedure until all 40 skeins have been dyed.

Cyan to Yellow

Colour Range 3 - Cyan to Yellow
For Colour Range 3 - I worked from the Cyan dyepot and added a bit of Yellow to change the colour.
Put the Cyan dyepot on the stove and heat until the dye solution is fairly hot. Add 1 dye skein and let it sit in the dye for about 20 minutes. Remove the dye skein, let it cool and rinse in cool water
To create 40 different colours, the second dyepot solution is divided into 40 equal portions.
4 litres of water / 40 = .10 litres each
Using a measuring cup, measure out .10 litres of dye solution (Yellow)
Add .10 litres of Yellow dye solution to the Cyan dyepot and stir.
Put the 2nd dye skein into the Cyan dye mixture and let sit for about 20 minutes.
Remove the dye skein, let cool and rinse.
For the 3rd colour, measure another .10 litres of Yellow. Add this to the Cyan dyepot.
Put the 3rd dye skein into the Cyan mix dyepot. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Remove the dye skein, let cool and rinse.
Repeat this procedure until all 40 skeins have been dyed.
Books Dyes & Colour

Art & Craft of Natural Dyes
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Wild Color
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Weavers Garden
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Craft of the Dyer
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Craft of the Dyer - Lichens
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Dyers Garden
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Chemistry of Natural Dyes
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Natural Dyestuff
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Colour Cauldron
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Mushrooms for Color
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Rainbow Beneath my Feet
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89 Natural Dye Recipes
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