I have admired the cool effect of Kool Aid dyed yarn for ages, but what I was really after was a way to get that effect on cotton yarn. And as luck would have it inspiration came in a the form of a very good friends ice painted t-shirt post. Borrowing her same technique Jude and I dyed our own custom cotton yarn.
This is a super fun craft to do with the kids and the results are stunning. And the best part is that you just made your own craft supply! This colorful cotton yarn is perfect for beginner projects like finger knitting and simple knit or crochet washcloths and dish towels. Jude even had the great idea of creating free printable skein labels, which are of course, colorable. If you've got a crafty person in your life I bet they would covet a hank of hand dyed yarn!! Just think of all the knitting and crocheting grandmas that would get a huge kick out of kid customized yarn!
This project is great for any time of year, but it really shines in summer. The whole thing can be done outside and it requires no heat what so ever. No simmering caldrons of dye or complicated steps. Just a little bit of messy fun!
To Ice Dye Yarn You'll Need:
- White or natural cotton yarn*
- Soda ash
- Cold dye (Here's a great kit with dye and the ash*)
- Ice
- Rubber gloves
- Download Colorful Cotton Printable Label
How To Ice Dye Cotton Yarn:
- Create hanks of yarn by loosely wrapping it around the back of a chair.
- Tie the hanks in several places with scraps of yarn to insure that they stay untangled. (Wear them as a cool necklace, obviously.)
- In a large bowl or bucket combine one gallon of water with one cup of soda ash.
- Plus on gloves. Soak the yarn in the soda ash water and gently ring it out.
- Place your yarn on a rack (such as the kind you cool cookies on) or in glass baking dish.
- Lay pieces of ice on top of your yarn.
- Sprinkle the dye powder over the ice and wait.
- One the ice has melted gently ring out your yarn.
- Rinse your yarn several times until the water runs clear, let it dry!
- Wrap it in your fancy custom band or simply get knitting!
I hope you and your little ones dig this project as much as we did. If you make your own yarn please tag me (@smallfriendly) on social media, I'd love to see it!!
* This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase on Amazon.com after clicking I will receive a tiny commission, thank you so much for your support!
