Glen Greens

In my continuing to get ready

for Rug School I started dyeing

greens the other day.

I like to use other colors of wool

than natural which I am finding to

be more scarce.

So I turned to the wonderful book

Prisims # 2 by Claire deRoos and Nancy MacLennan. I find this book of 57 straight gradations and 102 transitionals to be a wonderful resource. These women were gracious enough to allow me to post the formula.

Glen (or PR#15)

3/4 yellow # 119 , 1/4 Turquoise # 487 , 1/32 Black # 672 , and 1/32 magenta # 349

I usualy mix this formula with 2 cups boiling water and then add 1/8th citric acid to the bath.

I put 1/4th of the dye solution in a smaller container and then pour 1/2 of that solution in the dye water as it is almost boiling. I add my 1/4 yard of material. Push that under the water

and then slowly add the balance of the dye over the top. I don't stir much but do push the material down and swish it once around during the process. Then wait for the water to clear.

The above formula was poured over 1/4 yd. camel shown on the left hand side and 1/4 yard

of a Pendelton color caused seafoam. A light aqua blue. I still have half the original formula stored in a jar for a future day of dyeing.

The Prisims spots and Prisims 2 books are a wonderful reference for your dye library. They are affordable and are found in most places where rug hooking supplies are found. So grab a book,

get out the dye pots and go for it.

Next week is Rug School so get prepared for picture and share the fun with us.

P.S. last time I posted I gave the wrong number for a red in th formula. It should be #366.

But if you don't have that then try the red you have and just go for it. Life is to short

not to experiment and find out what wonderful things can come out of your dye pot.

What to do with Browns

formula for DARK CHILI.

The outside dark brown in the picture is 1/4 yard of Pendelton rust. A dark brown that is kind of blah on it's own. The Center picture is when I put the formula over a camel. I think the dark brown would look lovely as a background with green, red and oranges over the rust color.The picture does not do it justice. The camel piece reminds me of fall leaves.

DARK CHILI

1/32 spearmint in 1 cup
1/32 388 red in 1 cup Add 1/4 tea. citruc acid to each cup.
1/32 orange in 1 cup

I used a Presto Pot, put in my 1/4 yard of wool. In a wandering style I added
1/3 of the one cup of spearmint. I waited about 7 minutes for the water to almost clear. Then added all of the red. Pour over in spots on the wool. Wait until the water clears again and then add the orange in the same manner.

Next I tried the same formula over the camel. I think that a grey might work well with this formula and give me a good surprise but did not have time to try that day.
So what I am trying to say is experiment with what you have. Put more than one color of wool in your pot and get ready for a great surprise.

Dyeing should be fun and don't be afraid to try. You will have a great basket of wool by the time you get to Rug School.