How to make your own desired gradient yarn

I would describe myself as a passionate artist, but crocheting and knitting should definitely not be missing. Constantly looking for new and inexpensive methods to create beautiful unique pieces. For this reason I would like to answer the question for you in this blog post:

Can you dye gradient yarn yourself?

You can easily try this at home in a bowl with your choice of dye and yarn. The DIY method is inexpensive and you can literally "let your creativity run free" when it comes to color gradients. The products you need for this are all available in drugstores and come in all sorts of variations.

In the following blog post I will show you detailed instructions and other methods for dying gradient yarn. Answer the question as to which method is the best in terms of the ecological aspect and explain other important details that you need to consider so that you can process your own Bobbels.

This is how you easily dye your own perfect gradient yarn

You're good to go, you just need a few inexpensive items from the drugstore or you may already have it at home.

The shopping list

• Yarn for dyeing (light colors give better results)
• Hair tie (to tie together)
• Dye
• Gloves
• washbasin
• Warm water

Important: Look at the enclosed instructions for your purchased color and follow them. I use commercial fabric dye when dyeing and my experience has shown that the following instructions have proven to be the best and are also the easiest for me. Try it!

Instructions for your DIY project

Grab an old bowl that holds about 5 liters. Old because it can happen, depending on the material of the vessel, that the color can leave residues.

In the meantime, you can get the kettle and heat 300 ml of water to around 80 degrees Celsius. You don't have a thermometer - no problem, before the kettle turns itself off, you take over the task beforehand, so the temperature is around 80 degrees Celsius.

Now put the desired yarn aside and the dye will now open.

Method: from light to dark

Your desired dye yarn should already be between 150 g - 300 g, so that dyeing is worthwhile to create beautiful things. The method that has worked best is to color from light to dark, as you can play better with the intensity of the color. Another advantage is that you can still change it if you don't like it. So nothing is too late.

Rule of thumb - always one third.

The dyeing process is done in three steps and I divided the dye into about three thirds.

1. step

Pour 300ml of water into the wash bowl and at the same time pour the first third of the paint. Stir well and then take the yarn and dip it two thirds. The color should be left for at least 10-15 minutes before the next process begins. If the time is up and you are happy with it, then it goes on.

2. step

Pour the second third of the dye into the bowl and now half dip the yarn. Once the desired color result has been achieved, you can start with the last step.

3. step

Finally, add the last third of the dye to the bowl - this should also be the darkest level. Take the yarn for the last time and dip the bottom third of it into the bowl.

A "more difficult method" is to dye the gradient yarn with different colors, e.g. green, blue, brown. Then I recommend variant 1 light on dark in different bowls.

Find your method

That's why you dye your own gradient yarn

The gradient yarn, also known as Bobbel, is in trend this winter and will remain so for a long time to come thanks to the variety. Originally, the special feature of the Bobbels is that they are hand-wound, usually with three or more threads and untwisted. What makes this yarn so unique, as the name suggests, is the "gradient".

They come in a wide variety of colors. Such a Bobbel is made with great effort and that is reflected in the price. So why not take a cheap yarn and evolve by making your own.

Especially in winter it is at the top of the to-do list: crocheting and knitting. Whether it's a giant scarf, socks, ponchos, gloves, pullover or a hat. There are no limits for your creativity. The self-created pieces are priceless, if only because you can't convert so much sweat and headaches into money.

Then imagine the next step, you crochet with the gradient yarn you dyed yourself. This is the next "level".

As soon as you decide to implement this dyeing method, it is of the greatest advantage to deal with the materials of the bobble in order to choose the perfect yarn for you.

Materials

Polyacrylic - synthetic fibers.

This material impresses with its robustness and low price. These synthetic fibers have similar warming properties to animal fibers and are therefore ideal for a vegan lifestyle. However, the synthetic fibers are more difficult to dye by hand and the result is not exactly predictable.

Cotton

The flatterer on the skin is perfect for cozy winter days and doesn't hurt the wallet. Clearly my favorite yarn. It is skin-friendly and soft. What can brighten the mood better than a cuddly cotton sweater and a hot cup of cocoa.

Cotton is durable, easy to care for and regulates temperature and moisture. The purchased color gradient yarns usually consist of a mixture of 50% cotton and 50% polyacrylic.

After you have decided on a yarn, the next question comes: what kind of dye do I use to dye my yarn.

On the one hand there is the classic, the textile dye. You will find a range of offers, from cheap to expensive, from light to dark.

DIY colors are currently very much in vogue, such as chestnut-copper red or beetroot. These colors are very easy to make by boiling them in a pot of water and using your desired dyeing method.

I can only recommend dyeing with natural dyes. They are biological and ecological. At the same time, they don't have quite as much color intensity as the bought ones, but the environment will thank you several times.

Important to note

• For starters, use a 50% cotton and 50% synthetic yarn
• choose light colored yarn, such as beige or light grey
• Always keep an eye on and control the coloring times

Conclusion

It is a pleasure to work with gradient yarn and to make it yourself. It is unique - one of a kind. Ideal for beginners as it becomes a work of art in itself even without a complicated pattern. If a mistake does creep in, the yarn will forgive you without any problems.

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