Choose 1 to 3 colors of dye. Figure out if there is enough yarn of same dye lot to knit two sleeves of it. Or maybe you want to make something smaller? Dyeing is the application of colour to textiles. make it a part of the garments look? There are lots of things you can use to dye your yarn with, including liquid food coloring, gel food coloring, and flavored juice mix (ie: Kool Aid). (Sounds scary, but the ‘acid’ is just the white vinegar that you add to help set the dye.) KNIT ANOTHER SIZE BY SWITCHING KNITTING NEEDLES, A SPEAR, BLUE SKY AND THE SWEATER SPYDEBERG. You can transform same color yarn of different dye lots into cohesive, nearly invisible rows or rounds when you follow this easy technique. That way the skeins will be totally separate and it won’t be so obvious that your colors are a little off. Tags: about yarn, crochet, knit, yarn dyeing, Enter in your email and password to create a FREE account. When a batch is dyed, the dye lot number is assigned; you’ll find this number on the label. All the yarn from a dye lot will have the same dye lot number on the label, but different brands use different numbers. Attach the new yarn at beginning of next row and crochet 2 rows with the new dye lot, drop yarn, crochet 2 rows with the old dye lot. That's when they recommend that you alternate from 2 balls of yarn throughout so you won't don't end up with a project that has sections that look like different shades of the same yarn. If you purchase a skein with a different dye lot, the color difference could be pretty drastic. The darkest colours are in bottom of the hat, and the lightest colours on top. But I think that the most fun of all was taking pale purplish-gray yarn dyed with elderberry, and modifying the dyebath with washing soda to create an alkaline solution which turned the dyebath and yarn a brilliant green! If the dye lots are just slightly off to your eye, leave enough yarn of the old dye lot to crochet about 6-10 rows. I have pH Test Strips and I am using them, and taking lots of notes along the way. If your skeins are from the same dye lot you would just alternate the skeins, however, in the case of 2 different dye lots I will alternate dye lot 1 and dye lot 2. September 28, 2020 By Ashley Little & filed under Crocheting Blog, Knitting Blog, Knitting Fundamentals. Join expert crocheter, knitter and designer Lena Skvagerson in this Quick Stitches & Tips episode and discover a valuable tip that can be used for crochet and knit projects. When you crochet, any time you can create a break between the 2 skeins, any color variation will be less noticeable. Easy and fun. I had 7 skeins of one and 4 skeins of another. The technique is called "carrying the yarn" and it is also used when using creating striped pieces. If you have two skeins with the same color number but different lot numbers, that’s OK! Learn new craft techniques and tips from the experts. Anytime. We’ve all been there. If you stitch a few rows in each color throughout the pattern, the shades will blend together instead of appearing as two large blocks of color. If you're using two dye pots, put one half of the yarn in one bowl and one half in the other, draping it over the edge in between the two. Most yarn is dyed in batches called lots which leads to variation between lots. So, let’s say you’re knitting a sweater — you can knit the front of the sweater with one dye lot and the back with the other. I was curious, since my dye seemed to be very dark after dyeing the two skeins of yarn. A dye lot is a number that identifies skeins of yarn dyed in the same vat. Refill your dyepot with water the same temperature as the soaking water, then add the liquid dye and stir. One good use for it is as practice yarn … Even though the same dyes are used, there may be noticeable color variations. This yarn, for instance is called Navy (easy enough) and its dye lot is 2014-03-001. Yarn is dyed in batches and these batches are called “dye lots”. I did the sleeves with 3/7 skeins of the first dye lot. In this case, that’s a good thing. And if not, you might want to place it as a stripe on the yoke or the body. Help. On a sweater for example. Different dyes work with different materials. A dye lot is the batch the yarn was dyed in. I used squirt bottles and applied the dye liberally to different areas of the yarn. How-To Knit with Different Dye Lots and Hand Dyes. So, how do you avoid it? Now apply the dye using by squirt bottle, foam brushes, dribbling by spoon or ladle, whatever method you choose. If it disappears and blends in, this would be a good skein to buy. For instance, the best dye for wool (protein/animal) fibers is special wool dye or Acid Dye. So, the white yarn was sorted by which one was brighter. Dear Lorena, For some yarns, there is natural variation eve within dye lots because of the dyeing process. It might be more of a pain, but the variation will be much less obvious. This hat is knitted with two different blue colours, one grey, and for the white part it is used three different dye lots. Understanding dye lot is crucial for any artist that works with fiber. The lot number tells you it was dyed in lot 2422, so it’ll match seamlessly with other skeins with a 2422 lot number. The darkest colours are in bottom of the hat, and the lightest colours on top. No one wants to make the bulk of a project, run out of yarn and have it be a different lot number. Our … Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. Consider texture and color. This yarn is exactly like other types of worsted yarn and can be used for any purpose for which dye lot yarn is used. This will blend the color changes together to transition more smoothly and will give you a much cleaner look. If you’re knitting something that has several pieces, plan how you’ll use each skein before you get started. Advantages and Uses. When a yarn is dyed, it’s impossible for every single skein to achieve the exact same color, especially if they’re dyed in smaller batches. Presoak your wool yarn in a warm water/vinegar mix. A skein with a 160 color number and 2423 lot number might be a little lighter, darker, redder, etc. When you’re choosing yarn for a particular project and there is a dye lot number, make sure you gather all of your yarn at the same time and that they are all the same dye lot. Yarn is dyed in batches or lots. Would you like to see more from Aud B? Dying self-striping yarn You can also use professional dyes as well, but you'll need to use special utensils for that to … When we assign a dye lot number the main use is to identify which skeins can be labeled and packed together. I'm making the timberline cardigan and because it uses sooooo much yarn I couldn't get enough of the same dye lot. Essentially, you will alternate skeins every 2 to 4 rows. Best case scenario, actually go to a B&M yarn shop so you can hold the skeins/balls/hanks up against each other and compare. Here is a tip for a hat. 2. If working in the round, switch skeins at the start of each round. I am not sure if that makes a big difference, but I could imagine it might be easier for the yarn to stay in the dye water without me having to squeeze it for a while. The color number tells you the yarn is ginger, and every other ginger-colored skein will have that number. Don't worry about the middle too much. Match the content of your yarn to the type of dye. Dye lots are numbers stamped onto the ball band, and it’s not uncommon for the same colour to vary from one dye lot … Using the Exhaust Bath of the Pokeberry Dye . Color and dye lot information can most commonly be found near to the UPC code on mass market yarns like Patons, Red Heart or Lion Brand Yarn. What information should I look for on the yarn label? With gloves on you may press down and squeeze the yarn to see how well the dye is absorbing. Makes sense, right? And there’s one culprit behind this pesky issue: skeins from different dye lots. To avoid unwanted color variations, buy enough yarn from the same dye lot at one time to complete your project. Sign up for the Premium Membership and get access to our best Craftsy videos and projects. This way any differences in the skeins mesh together and can create such a beautiful looking garment. It wouldn't be good if the sleeves of your sweater were a slightly different color. But never fear — there’s an easy way to tell which yarns come from the same batch. If I dye my own cotton yarn again, which I will do very likely as it is a lot of fun, I would try to soak the yarn before dyeing the yarn. Skeins of yarn from the same dye lot in sufficient quantity to produce a single sweater. Would you frog about two hours of work upon suddenly realising that the dye lot of the new hank is visibly different? When we dye our yarns, the same formula is used each time but every batch of yarn is assigned a different dye lot number. The information on the yarn label is helpful in … And there’s one culprit behind this pesky issue: skeins from different dye lots. Where to alternate yarns from different dye lots in a cardigan? The differences from one dye lot to another can be very subtle, or extremely noticeable, specially on variegated yarns. Because of that the switching of colours will start on different places on the hat and make a softer impression of the shifts. This hat is knitted with two different blue colours, one grey, and for the white part it is used three different dye lots. The dye lot number is important information for hobbyist knitters and crocheters, because the use of yarn from different dye lots can spoil the appearance of handmade textiles. When the next batch is dyed, a new dye lot number is assigned. I like the 2-row method because the carried yarn is not stretched quite that far. The colors of two different dye lots may look the same under certain lights and VERY different under other lights or … Because of this, two yarns labeled “mustard” or “teal” can actually have small (but noticeable) differences that drive any fiber artist crazy. One can hardly see that they are different, and that was the point this time. When you crochet larger products, such as blankets, you often use multiple skeins of yarn. Instead of knitting half the scarf with the first skein and half with the second, alternate the skeins as you knit. In my experience, the yarn ends up creating a wicking effect, drawing the color up the yarn to the middle. Place your scrap yarn piece amongst the strands of the different dye lot yarn and look at it under good light. All the colours are knitted to the end of the thread and used up. If you still see rich levels of color in the dye bath, it is possible to attempt subsequent dye lots from the dye you used. The dye lot is stamped on this yarn’s label, but sometimes dye lots will be printed on labels. One can hardly see that they are different, and that was the point this time. These can make a big impact on the style of your finished project. BTW--if you ever find yourself in a situation where you do have yarns from different dye lots, the best way to minimize the issues with color mismatch are to use the yarns from both dyelots at the same time--knit/crochet two rows with one yarn, and then switch to the other yarn. If your yarn is from a different dye lot, it could vary in color, creating a very noticeable eyesore in your project. When a yarn is dyed , it’s impossible for every single skein to achieve the exact same color, especially if they’re dyed in smaller batches. About Dyes The dye lot is super important, especially for indie-dyed yarns, because the shade/tint can vary from batch to batch. Let’s say you have two skeins from different dye lots and you’re making a scarf. So you’ve finally finished knitting that monochromatic sweater, but when you hang it up you suddenly see the bottom of your sweater is a completely different shade than the top! Instead of alternating dye lots every couple of rows, I decided to try a "cheat": I would knit with a single skein of yarn til I was down to the last 50 or so yards, then I would introduce the second dye lot yarn into the mix by alternating rows til the first skein ran out. (I bought the yarn from an independent dyer and she said she doesn't really do lot numbers as she does such short 'series' of yarn...turns out that they do look different). When you buy multiple skeins of yarn, compare these numbers to ensure that they’re the same (that is, that all your yarn comes from the same dye batch). Check out how We Love Crocheting created a stunning colour blocked effect on their white yarn using different flavours of Kool Aid to make the different shades. Do not leave the yarns you dye with natural colors to sit out in the sunlight. Yarn from a different batch may vary in color. In other words, all skeins with the same dye lot number were dyed/colored using the same vat of dye. Anywhere. Dye lot number and/or color number: What batch of dye this yarn came from. Why not The hank is ready for the dye application. This same technique can be used when using commercially dyed yarns from different dye lots. While the yarn is soaking, you will mix up your acid dye according to the manufacturer directions. A dye lot generally has very little variation in the colors, for large single color projects having a single dye lot can make or break you project. Repeat for a few inches and then continue on with new dye lot. A dye lot is a number that identifies skeins of yarn dyed in the same vat. Take a look at the images and text below. So, the white yarn was sorted by which one was brighter. Although the color may be different, there are two ways you can work around the inconsistencies as you knit. All of the yarn in one batch will be the exact same color and will have the same dye lot number on the label. When buying yarn for a project, you want all of the yarn to come from the same dye lot. Check out the pattern shop here. Differences in dyeing temperature, how long the yarn is in the dye, and other factors all determine the color of the yarn. Here's another sweater I knit using two different dye lots of Malabrigo Rios. Each yarn label has two numbers: a color number (160 in the skein above) and a lot number (2422). Yarn is dyed in batches.