Dyepot PS #32 - Swatching Dharma Acid Dyes On Yarn; Rough Swatches with New To Me Colors

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Dyepot PS Playlist: • Dyepot PS
ITEMS USED IN THIS VIDEO (or frequently used in my videos):
(All Links labeled with a "*" are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission sales made through these links.)
KnitPicks Stroll Fingering Weight Yarn (75% Superwash Merino / 25% Nylon) - shrsl.com/2ly91 *
Catering Steam Pan: amzn.to/2tGWYph *
Digital Kitchen Scale - amzn.to/2XJgleB *
Plastic Syringes for Measuring dye - amzn.to/3fCX4nP *
Digital Kitchen Scale - amzn.to/2XJgleB *
Purple Nitrile Gloves - amzn.to/2I6pRpl *
Reusable Zip Ties - amzn.to/3bPdOag * NOTE: the listing that I originally purchased is here: amzn.to/2Oz3xqj * but the brand seems to have updated it to include non-reusable zip ties. This has updated back to the original item in the past, but just in case I'm leaving a new link for a brand that I haven't tried.
Deluxe Rubber Respirator - www.dharmatrading.com/tools/d...
Dharma Acid Dyes - www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dh...
Dharma Squeeze Bottles - www.dharmatrading.com/tools/s...
My favorite tools and equipment for dyeing yarn - www.chemknits.com/2019/07/the...
Face Masks for Dyeing Yarn - www.chemknits.com/2020/07/resp...
FILMING EQUIPMENT
DSLR Canon EOS80D - amzn.to/2PXWbMa *
Webcam - Logitech C930e 1080P HD Video Webcam amzn.to/315Mge0 * (there is likely an upgraded version of this)
Tripod (60") - amzn.to/3iUfBy5 *
VIDEO CONTENTS:
[0:00] Introduction
[0:53] Old Swatches from Dharma and Jacquard Acid Dyes
[1:27] Organizing the colors
[5:18] Safety!
[5:51] The dyebath
vinegar ratio: 8 cups of water + 2T white vinegar. I used 4-5 cups of this mixture for each of the swatching examples
[7:16] Pink Swatches
All of the swatching in this video was done on cool yarn. Some colors shift as we heated it up!
Note that some colors shift once the heat is turned on!
[12:11] Swatching the Reds
[16:18] Finishing up the red yarn
At the end, add some more water and vinegar and heat for 15 more minutes before removing the yarn to let it cool.
[20:34] Blue & Purple Swatches
[29:53] Checking in on the red yarn
[30:12] Finishing up the blue yarn
[37:41] Yellow, Green, & Brown Swatches
[44:38] Final check in on blue yarn
[44:51] Finishing up the Green Yarn
[50:30] Washing the yarn
[51:56] The finished swatches
[52:42] Conclusions
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Leave No Dye Behind Playlist: • Leave No Dye Behind - ...
Frequently Asked Questions Playlist: • What You Can't Dye wit...
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The above links are affiliate links, which means I earn a commission on sale of items purchased through these links. All items used in this video were purchased and selected by me unless otherwise stated. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[@IceWeirdo]

The green colourway looks like an exotic frog! 🐸 I like it.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Thank you so much!

[@sunnywinterafternoon]

It was so funny seeing all three colourways at the end because the first time I was experimenting with acid dyes I created essentially those colourways as well lol

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

It is so fun to do these random colorways

[@haleymetcalf3335]

Yes I think a blog post with photos would be great. And I like the idea of cross brand swatches too, both could help when trying to decide which colors to purchase. TY!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Thank you, Haley! I think it would be useful and is something on my list to write up soon.

[@kathycostello4104]

Thank you so much for all the work this is. I gain so much as a hobbyist who doesn't want 75 jars of color! LOL! But I will steal your idea of color chips on the tops. I am learning so much and having so much fun.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Little Bean Loves Yarn taught me about the color swatches on top - it has been SO HELPFUL since I store the dyes in tubs.

[@darktastee]

It’d be nice to see mini-skein swatches (or super mini skein swatches) that you could keep for your swatch library, each skein could have one color with dry sprinkles and a 1% solution wash. I think it would be very helpful to have real swatches to create your color mixes!

[@vmtracy]

That blue/purple skein is *so* beautiful...

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Thank you so much!

[@sleepydrJ]

Get hold of a painter’s palette knife with a narrow steel tip. Much better for manipulating dye powder than those crude plastic spoons.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Something like that would be handy. I did wash and save all of these spoons so I can use them again. (These were ones that we save in a drawer from take out. We usually request no silverware etc but stil they add up.)

[@ooohlaa13]

I took screenshots of all your named charts as well as the individuals and skeins. I don't own any Dharma dyes but this is still inspiring and food for thought in choosing colorways for both this and my pour painting pursuits. I love how you combine presentations with offerings from the left and right brain ... the best! Mahalo!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I'm so glad this was helpful, Barbara!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I refer back to my crude swatches all the time

[@pheelya]

I'm slowly building my dye collection and these types of videos really help me decide which ones I want to try. You're videos have been very educational and I'm looking forward to playing around some more with yarn and dyes!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I'm so glad that I could help.

[@MOLLIMEDIA]

I love the blues/purples, but the yellow/green/brown is stunning!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

THank you! I don't play with browns nearly often enough and need to do more for sure.

[@kachsavage4047]

I think my favourite colours were the tobacco leaf and the flamingo.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Tobacco leaf needs its own moment for sure.

[@alisavanrooyen1030]

Yes to the challenge idea,it would be interesting to intentionally break colors

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I love doing those so much!

[@anhu8528]

So while I was watching here are the thoughts that were going through my brain as the swatches became colorways: "Ooh I could totally see that red colorway as a fun summer top." "Those blues and greens together remind me of 'the big blue marble'" That green colorway looks like either the forest floor (lichens/mosses) or forest canopy (different leaf colors)" It would be fun to see all the blues and greens together looking like a space shot of earth.

[@shonaguthrie848]

I love the blue/purple colourway

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Thank you!

[@reivenne]

You could take a little cutting of each patch of the swatch and glue a little "colour pom pom" to the top of each dye tub (below the swatch card) so you can see the variation and different colours that each dye provides on your primary fibre.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

That would be a fun way to do things! I'm more likely to make a little binder with true color swatches at some point... I saved all of my jacquard triangle minis. :D

[@EveChan1804]

TOTALLY love the green brown the most. Maybe a hint of orange and I would fall for fall ;)

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Oh yes! I need to dye more with brown for sure!

[@sharilynross1140]

Wow! They're all beautiful! What a fun video! (Oh, the greens!)

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Thanks so much!

[@joycook9169]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, I recently purchased some dharma dyes and have not tested them, so this was extremely useful.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bjchadwick4261]

I really enjoyed this. It helps to see the various colors in use and I know on my next order from dharma I will be getting a few of these colors. Tobacco leaf, Ballerina pink, etc.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

A lot of green dyes are super super fun.

[@e.s.briggs5147]

I love this!! This is an amazing tool for those of us who are plotting what colors they might want to include in their workroom. I would love to see you do a series where you try to break some of these non-primary-color dyes, too!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

You are so welcome! I don't have a huge list from this batch of things that I think might break dramatically with dip dyeing, but there are absolutely more colors I want to play with. I'm trying to go go beyond my favorites and comfort zone to play with more colors this year. :D (I've found that while many acid dyes break, there aren't that many that break dramatically in a way that I can predict. But I"m trying to play more and learn more.)

[@kathrynb130]

The green makes me on the lookout for creepers!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

LOVE IT! Hsssssssss.........

[@amymikelson3060]

I was just trying to determine what color I wanted a sweaters quantity of yarn to be, never thought about swatching. Perfect timing on this. I know you've done it before, but had forgotten it. And, you get a great skein of yarn out of it as well! Thanks!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

You are so welcome! I love doing this to just see how the colors work together - especially if I'm going to play with dry powders for something. Some colors look so similar in the powder form vs in a stock bottle.

[@kat1984]

I really appreciate these swatch videos. I don't have enough storage to make stock solutions and do all of my dyeing with the dry powder

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

You are so welcome!

[@FromTheCauldron]

A whole bunch of new dyes have now jumped to the top of my “to buy” list 🤣 I really enjoyed this video. Thank you! I’d love to see you swatch all the greens or pinks etc. See how they all compare.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I think I want to go through each major color family to really compare the ones that are close together. Pinks will likely be easier than reds since the reds are SO SO SO similar I think I need to do 1% DOS to compare those better.

[@rebekahaustin7971]

What would be fun is minnie scains with a ombre of each color, to see what it looks like dry....? Fun Yes 🤔😏

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

oh yes!

[@dorie9728]

I love these videos there really fun!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I'm so glad! Thank you!

[@amandall3633]

I've just got the spearmint breeze, and the seaspray, and I was surprised at just how green the spearmint breeze was, I ended up with a colourway I wasn't quite expecting, nor actually wanted. I need to do a bit at a time next time🤔💕

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Some colors are quite different from the swatches they show on their website. (Which I think are mostly at a 1% DOS on silk.)

[@nancymorgan5505]

Fun times with Rebecca.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

:D Thank you!!

[@cathseyecatcherscatherinen5075]

I absolutely loved seeing all these colors! Please make something with indigo en sea breeze :)

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

that sounds awesome!

[@kathleenmcquade31]

I absolutely love when you do swatches, and I love your triangle of colours that you do. Those I want to try for myself as I get further on, for doing my own recipes!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

YAY! I'm so glad this is helpful.

[@vifrost1034]

Hi At 34-14 I can see a mummy skull at the top left corner just to the lower right of the green. Christmas greeting to you and your family.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Merry Christmas and Happy new year!

[@sonyahouk1503]

They the are all beautiful

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Thank you so much!

[@thryssinstitches9655]

Would this way of dyeing work with cotton yarn and jacquard procion? I love when you swatch then turn it into such a beautiful piece. It's going to be what I do first. I'm finally getting started dyeing and I'm so excited!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I'm not sure - I don't have enough fiber reactive dyes to really test it out. Although I suppose I should.

[@aquinna]

I would love to see comparisons of just the reds, greens, etc.

[@carolcorcoran9643]

Hey rebecca love seeing these swatches and thought I had all the pinks I needed cause I had all you swatched until you did pink orchid and man I have to have so while I'm ordering might as well get the most out of my shipping cost so let me ask about indigo. Is it close to gun metal? Also curious about midnight blue and that Chinese red and poinsettia. I just bought oxblood and debated that to the other 2 I just mentioned so can you give me anymore insight on these? Also curious about sunflower yellow and the one next to it I forgot the name. I have mustard oh and moss green? I'm ridiculous I have so many dyes and yarn you would think I had a shop lol. If you can help out with a bit more insight while I watch again (4 times now lol) thanks so much.

[@craftybluejeans]

This was excellent -thank you so much! :-)

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@starbrown940]

I'd love to see a comparison of over dying with acid dyes verses food coloring. For instance yellow acid dyed over dyed with orange food coloring and the opposite, yellow food coloring over dyed with orange acid dyed.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

This is an interesting idea. I do have some combo food coloring and acid dye videos coming up. The hard thing about this comparison is that it would be pretty difficult to get similar amounts of dye each time. It might be easier to start with the same yellow color and then over dye with either acid dyes or food coloring and compare that way.

[@joanarnold82]

That's so odd. My Flamingo Pink is very bright pink. And I actually have 2 Versions of Sea Spray. 1 that was a "bad batch" that was more blue than it's supposed to be, and the other which is from a "good batch" that is more green than blue, but both are definitely a muted, dusty color that I love to use.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I tried finding my sea spray swatch the other day and couldn't find it. Did I mislabel the spearmint breeze? I'm not sure what I did with that color. lol

[@kathleenmcquade31]

Some of the reds I am having trouble distinguishing between them. Uggg! The trials and tribulations of doing everything on my phone! I do not have internet, only data!!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

A lot of the reds are SUPER similar. I think that for a true red comparison I should look at them at a 1% DOS versus just straight powder.

[@kathleenmcquade31]

@@ChemKnitsTutorials that would be great Rebecca! With the purple colours too. There are so many variations to that colour! Is there a really deep amethyst or maybe even a grape colour, I cannot think of a good jewel tone for purple that would work with the glazing as I have mentioned to you before. Imagine all the deep saturated jewel tones under that glazing with the true black. Ooooo!

[@kathleenmcquade31]

The depth of saturation of the oxblood looks like it would be a perfect colour for doing the glazing on, adding to emerald and sapphire. As far as gemstones go, is the oxblood a ruby or a garnet?

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I don't remember, TBH. I need to do a red deep dive at some point because the crude swatching isn't quite giving me enough information.

[@pattigolden1]

Really loving the green/brown... And it's not something you see a lot of.....

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I want to do that more!

[@carolcorcoran9643]

Rebecca I know I asked way to many questions about the colors the only one I really need advice on is indigo. Is it like gun metal by jaquard?

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Hmmmm... I'll have to look through. Gun Metal is more of a navy/a bit dustier. Off the top of my head I'm not sure which one is best. :( I'm hoping to do a BLUE BLUE BLUE comparison video sometime early this year.

[@carolcorcoran9643]

@@ChemKnitsTutorials ya I went to purchase it but they are all out so I'll wait but man you convinced me about pink orchid and Chinese red. Have a great day and don't worry about indigo it's not that much and I might as well get most out of shipping cost.

[@kathleenmcquade31]

Maybe printing out a picture of your swatches, and if that shows the true colour you see, then putting them on the tops of your pots instead of the colour chart from the company. It will be so much easier to see the real colour. And of course, it also depends on the colour of the base yarn. Using the colour of yarn you usually see being a yellow/natural base, next to a white base, as if the fiber has been bleached. I love how you do these swatches! Now Rebecca, does the ph level of the water have any effect on the colour that the powder produces on white/natural colour base yarn?

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

That would be a lot more complicated. ;) LOL. :D

[@sarahturnbull7610]

I just read that Dharma’s Spearmint Breeze is not lightfast and found a couple of threads on Ravelry with people saying their fibre had faded quickly. I am feeling a bit sad because I really wanted that colour. I don’t suppose there’s anything you can do to prevent it from fading. I do wish I hadn’t bought it. I don’t know what to do with it now - can’t sell it or give it away knowing it’s “not quite right”. Hmm.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

It does look like it is less light fast than many of the other colors (here is a comparison of lightfastness - www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-acid-dyes.html scroll down) I think that the important thing with colors that aren't super lightfast are to store the items out of direct sunlight, especially when wet. Food coloring isn't as lightfast as most acid dyes, but I have FC dyed items that are super vibrant still because I store them in a closet when I'm not wearing them. So the dyes CAN be used, but it is worth keeping in mind for sure. Looking into it spearmint breeze has some fluorescent pigments in it and those are prone to breaking down faster than some other pigments.

[@mindymcintosh1]

I messaged you some photos on Instagram and I found a green rainbow great videos.

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Awesome thank you! They're beautiful

[@mindymcintosh1]

@@ChemKnitsTutorials your welcome. I will send more soon.

[@cathymontgomery7295]

What weight are the skeins? 100 grams? Thanks

[@leahyy93]

I just received their sage green powder and when I opened it it almost looks purple. Is that normal? I’m nervous to put it on my yarn 😅

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I don't think Sage leaf powder looked purple to me, but maybe a little grayish? If you're concerned take a bit of it onto a damp paper towel. It should be green with some flecks of blue and yellow (I forget if there are a few reddish ones.)

[@kathleenmcquade31]

Rebecca, leave this until after your holiday! Does the ph level of the water have any affect on how a colour turns out on the yarn? I guess I am asking this for both acid and food colouring affects on the yarn, on natural or bleached white. I write it now so I don't lose my 'train' of thought. My mind seems to work that way, hence the way I 'railroad' you with so many questions as the video goes instead of doing them all together at the end! Is it ok that I do that, or do you prefer it all in one go?

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I'm supervising zoom school at the moment so I'm responding to comments. I'm still panning to take a break. ;P

[@jon9126]

Does this method work on feathers?

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Hey Jon, I think you can dye feathers with acid dyes, but I'm not sure what techniques you need to do to dye them without damaging them. Good luck!

[@kathleenmcquade31]

Rebecca, how much of a difference is there between starting cold and starting hot? I realize that there have been a few colours that seem to have retained the colour from the cold application where there were some that really changed once the heat was applied, eg the Chinese Red. Maybe keeping a note on which colours that go that way, where there is SO much change and then maybe do swatches on those. Just an idea, though it may not be worth the time to put into it.

[@kathleenmcquade31]

YES! Swatch away Rebecca! And triangle away too!

[@kathleenmcquade31]

Swatching speckles? Hmmm....

[@kathleenmcquade31]

As green is my colour, I absolutely love the blues much more here. So many ideas to go into your book of future videos, eh Rebecca?

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I think the big difference is just the speed with which the colors strike to the yarn. When cold, you may not see variation in speckles because there is time for the colors to spread out a bit more. So swatching hot may make the breaking more obvious (if there is breaking) .

[@darleneking5244]

💜❤️💗💙

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

Thank you!!!

[@SparkyJoon]

Midnight Blue should be called “Pansy Purple”

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

oooo yes!

[@kathleenmcquade31]

I am really getting the idea that you really don't like white Rebecca!

[@ChemKnitsTutorials]

I love white - but there are times where I get sad that I didn't get the coverage I wanted for a colorway.