Remember this sweater that I knit for Primogeniture for Christmas? (Note - being modeled by Secundogeniture because he was available!)
I knit it in natural wool - because that's what I had on hand. Primogeniture requested a charcoal gray sweater. I asked for help in my Finish or Frog It Friday group on Ravelry and got a lot of suggestions. My friend, upon realizing that this was my very first time dyeing a hand knit sweater directed me to the RIT dye videos. It looked so easy, so that's what I did.
Supplies on hand:
6 gallons hot water
2 cups vinegar
Rubber gloves
1 bottle Rit dye
1 bottle Fit fixative
2 teaspoons dishwashing liquid
Sweater to be dyed
Sample knit swatch (with same wool as sweater) to test the dye
I carefully followed the instructions on the packaging and the video. The sweater soaked in the dye for about 30 minutes (with constant stirring). Then it soaked in the fixative for about another 30 minutes. Then I rinsed it in cold water until the water ran clear.
I pressed out the excess water in the sink, blotted the very wet sweater in a large towel, then blocked it to the proper shape on my kitchen table. Notice the swatch alongside the sweater. I'll send that to my son to keep in the unfortunate event that the sweater requires mending down the road.
Now we wait a few days for this Forbes sweater to dry. If you like this - please check out designer Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed.
I can't wait for Primogeniture to try it on!
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