I promised a tutorial of the technique I used to paint my yarn.

Here is the link I used for inspiration.
http://www.gfwsheep.com/rov.inst/rov.inst.html
The difference is that I tend to simplify.

Here are the instructions:
Soak skein of yarn in warmish (not hot) water that has a few glugs of white vinegar in it. A glug IS a scientific measurement. :)
1 glug= @1/4 cup-ish
ratio of vinegar to water- 1/4-1/2 vin. per gallon of H20
I soak for a minimum of 1/2 hour.

While the skein is soaking, prep your workspace.
I put a thick layer of newspaper on my kitchen counter, then spread out plastic wrap sheets. I made them 2 wide with the sides overlapping, and longer than my skein by @ 6 inches on either side.
Mix up your dye solution.
I used acid dyes for the turquiose/ olive combo.
I bought them at Dharma.
http://www.dharmatrading.com
I used 1/2 tsp. dye in 1 cup hot water.
ALWAYS wear a face mask when working with dye in powder form. I have read that breathing it over time is toxic and you can build up reactions to it. Whatever- I tend to be overcautious with things like my lungs and cancer and stuff. I do it under my range hood (with it on) also. Once the powder is dissolved in the water, it is safe. Unless you drink it of course.
I also use utensils and jars that are for dyeing only.

Next--
Find an old larger paint brush that can be sacrificed to the dye gods. It will be ruined for all else. I used kid brushes that were @ 1/2 inch round.
Lightly squeeze out your skein of yarn- I left mine a bit soppy (sopping?) but not so it was in a puddle either.
Lay it out on the plastic wrap.
I then painted the dye on with the brush in stripes across the skein (you can see this in my blog pics). I used a pouring/ painting combo because I am impatient.
I also squeezed the yarn to make sure it was soaking up the dye through to the bottom. (using rubber gloves of course)
If you use minimal dye the colors will still bleed together a bit. I used too much brown dye in mine and the turqoise blended with it to make a beautiful green. I like these accidental occurrences though.
Next time I will use less dye to see how it makes a difference.
I have NOT tried cake dyes with this technique-- YET.
I am on a acid dye fit right now since the colors are so very very pretty.

OK- back on track--
Once the yarn is painted, pull the sides of the wrap together and close. The colors across from each other should be touching so they don't get all mixed up.
Roll up the ends to seal and fold in half and place in a sacrificed casserole dish.
Put into the toxic for-dyeing-only microwave and nuke for 3 minutes on and (2 minutes off with door open.)
This off-time keeps the wrap from blowing up and exploding.
I still watch carefully to make sure it doesn't though.
I did about 3 or 4 "on" sessions and then let it sit for about 5 minutes before taking out of the casserole dish.
If you are real concerned about temperature and stuff, the acid dyes are to be a min. of 180 degrees to set properly (according to manuf. directions) I figured that if it was THAT hot that the wrap was almost exploding it was pretty close. There is a balance you have to find between not hot enough and scorching the yarn. Use your judgement. Each microwave varies in it's power. Mine tends to be a bit pitiful.
I took the wrapped yarn out of the casserole dish and spread it back out on to the newspaper. I VERY CAREFULLY opened the ends of the wrap to let out the steam and opened the rest so the yarn could cool.
The wrap WILL be all melted to itself- don't let this worry you. I actually had to use a scissors to cut mine in spots because it was so melted together.

Once the yarn cooled enough to touch (but was still hot) I put it to soak in a bowl of water that was about the same temperature as the yarn. Too cold and it will felt (but you know this). You can also put a few more glugs of vinegar into this rinse water.
I did change the water again for a second soak- just to make sure the dye was not still coming out.
The first soak had just a trace of dye in it, so I knew the colors had held in the yarn.
Don't run water directly on the yarn or it will felt it also. Well, maybe gently to rinse a bit.
Then squeeze out and hang to dry.



Please share your results- esp. if you use the cake dyes.
I am having a dye-day next week so I can do some more testing. I plan to try a skein using cake dyes.
I will post my results after more experimentation
ALSO-
Please let me know how clear my directions are???

I will eventually be putting them on my website.
Thanks!
reenie