A little math
425 grams of this (hand spun superwash merino mordanted with alum):
Plus 200 grams of this (red onion skins):
Equals this:
Not the color I was expecting. I don't really eat tons of red onions; a fringe benefit of working at the co-op is being able to empty 25 lb. boxes of red onions of loose skins.
Equals this:
Not the color I was expecting. I don't really eat tons of red onions; a fringe benefit of working at the co-op is being able to empty 25 lb. boxes of red onions of loose skins.
posted by Jeanne at 8:10 AM
7 Comments:
The dye from the red onion skins works as a chemical indicator. That means the color will change depending on the pH of the solution. Was the pH of the dye bath acidic? I think the color of the yarn is the color that the onion skin dye changes in an acid.
You can do this as an experiment with your kids! Boil some red onion skins (or red cabbage) to get the dye into solution. Then put a little of the "onion juice" in a white saucer (or other small white container) and add a few drops of a household substance--lemon juice, ammonia, 7-Up, whatever as long as it isn't strongly colored itself. The "juice" should change different colors.
Was that a little too much information for you? :)
wow! Not the color I would expect either. Natural dyes are so funny. It seems like a color you might like, though. Do you?
I'm just most curious about whether you spun it yourself? I like the color...
Another question, what if you make the onion water alkaline (maybe we should ask Juan, the scientist)
Wow...of all of the colors in the world, that would have been one of my last guesses. Hmm...
Not at all the color I expected, but oddly appealing to me nonetheless.
I'm amazed at the color that turned. I love it.
I went to a place in Skye that dyed their wool from plants gleaned locally-- everything turned out a different colore from what you'd expect!
Hey, if you still have an invite for Ravelry-- I wouldn't mind taking you up on that. My email is allyshaw at gmail dot com. xoxo
I am very surprised at the color! I think it's quite pretty, though. Do you have a book or an online resource that discusses different natural dye sources? I have dyed a couple times with Kool-Aid, and I'm eager to see what else is out there.
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