[SmallTimeSmallholder]

My husband has gone to work and is away over night with his works Christmas party. I can fill up the kitchen with wool and dye to my hearts content with not a word of complaint    Yipee 

[Bionic]

Sounds good to me 
Please post some piccies when you have finished.
Sally

[SmallTimeSmallholder]

Here is what I managed to do 
I tried some multi dyeing for the first time. I am quite pleased with the results. Now to find some time for spinning it 

[jaykay]

That's all very pretty  I shall be interested to see how it spins up 

[Bionic]

Love it 

[Dans]

Beautiful. Were these acid dyes?

Dans

[SmallTimeSmallholder]

Hi Dans,
Yes, they were acid dyes. The photo doesn't really do it justice. I used Disco Pink (who could refuse that?!) and the multi dye was an area each of Marine Blue, Moss Green and Turquoise.
Can't wait to get carding and spinning 

[Dans]

Do you need to dye pre carding or spinning or can you dye once carded or once spun?

Dans

[Lesley Silvester]

Looks good.

And I'm relieved it is that sort of dyeing you have time for.   

[Bionic]

Dans,
I have been spinning some Romney fleece and hopefully this week will try dyeing it. My intention is to have a mix if colours by sprinkling different acid dye on the yarn. If I get round to it I will post pics of the results.
Sally

[SallyintNorth]

I used Disco Pink (who could refuse that?!) and the multi dye was an area each of Marine Blue, Moss Green and Turquoise.

It looks great  , I shall be very interested to see what you do with it 

Just a tip - an experienced Raveller warned me that Turquoise needs a bit more fixing that other colours, so recommended a vinegar wash first before any other washing.   Now, when I use turquoise in the mix, I give it a generous sploosh of vinegar in the first rinse, so it's ready to go once dried.

[SallyintNorth]

Do you need to dye pre carding or spinning or can you dye once carded or once spun?

I think you can dye when it suits you, but the optimum techniques may differ. 

Stove-top rainbow-dyeing works best on raw, unwashed fleece - the colours mix and melt better when there's some lanolin there, but it will dye anything. 

A friend does a lot of microwave dyeing; we've been experimenting with dyeing tops, finished yarn and finished (knitted) items - all have dyed fine, and a completely different effect to the stove-top dyeing.

The dyers who sell their beautiful colourways on Etsy and so on paint the colour onto tops, I think - that's a whole new area I haven't even opened the book on yet.

I just bought myself an eBook on Dyeing in the Kitchen in Interweave's Countdown to Christmas Sale, and some more acid dyes in an eBay seller's closing down sale, so I think 2013 is set to be a colourful year!   

[SmallTimeSmallholder]

Well, it's taken a while but here's the spun results. The pink I carded with red and natural fleece and single spun. I'm using it to make a hat for my 2 year old (she's too young to complain!) 
The mixed dyed I have spun and plied in the traditional manner. I'm thinking if socks.... Or maybe gloves...... A bag..... How do you ever decide?! 

[Bionic]

STS they are very nice. The mixed dye balls look similar in texture to my own spinning. I would love to make socks from my own yarn but I think mine would be a bit thick for that.
Sally

[SallyintNorth]

Sts they look fab     Love that pink!

Sally, thinner and more consistent will come in time - just keep spinning!

I started knitting a work jumper when my spinning looked a lot like Sts' grey balls.  I spin a much more consistent yarn now, but in truth you wouldn't really see the difference in the jumper unless you looked really close.

I do agree, though, Sally, that it's best to get your yarn fairly consistent - and, importantly, consistently strong, before making socks.  They get so much hard wear, you wouldn't want them to only last a few outings!