Dyeing woolens

This week I've taken a few steps back to why I started Heart Felt.  

Sadie was a late winter baby and even though I was over the moon to have a little girl the thought of dressing her in baby pink wasn't quite my thing.   I started picking up beautiful hand knits from the thrift stores in fabulous condition and tried to think what I could do with them to make them more my style ~ earthy, homely and natural.  

That's when I started exploring dyeing and enhancing each piece with hand sewn felt motifs.  

This is Sadie wearing the very first piece I upcycled in 2007.

 

What I love about it the unpredictable out come.   Putting that first wool item into the dye and seeing it soak up the colour like a sponge and then adding another piece in to get a slightly different tone and then pushing the dyes limit by adding one more item to it and getting a totally different outcome.  I find that exciting.  The piece you were sure was wool turns out to be an acrylic mix and it doesn't work, it's all part of it.  It does take a little bit of time so over the years I have being doing less of it, but this week I've rediscovered my love for it.

Thank-you to my friends who have passed on their wonderful knits to the next baby.....I hope you don't mind that I've hand dyed them.

 

I've got a deep stainless steel sink in my kitchen ~ but a stainless steel bucket or large stock pot are great too.   Stainless steel jug and large metal mixing spoon is good too.  I don't bother using gloves because I love having dyed stained hands for a couple of days.

 

I think the final outcomes are pretty great and I can't wait to dress the little man up in them.

 

Simple hand sewn felt motifs make each piece unique.

 

The beautiful wee hat on the right was white with blue stripes, I love how the blue wool has turned purple in the red dye.

 

This one I left just plain but changed the buttons to turquoise glass buttons.

 

Sometimes it's just nice to appreciate the knitting skills and time that have gone into some to these.

 

Just in case.....I've made one for you.  

Available in my Felt shop.

 

Comments

[Kerryn]

Gosh I love your style J. They are beautiful, all of them. Wishing you the best with the birth xo

[Heart Felt]

THanks so much Kerryn, Its nice to find the time before the baby
arrives to do all these things. jxx

[Shara]

Man am I jealous of your skills! I never thought of dying little handknits from the opshop! I'm going to look out for some now!!

[Steph]

Now you have me wanting to try it! I love the colours, that purple is gorgeous! The little man is going to be nice and snuggly in that lot. Can't wait to 'meet' him soon!

[Heart Felt]

Have fun! I want to see some pics too. Jxx

[Heart Felt]

Thanks Steph, the purple was suppose to be brown....but I probably
added too many item to the mix so they came out purple. But I love!

[Nin]

I've always loved you aesthetic and its so nice for you to share some of your process. I would love to experiment with dyeing and hand printed techniques too, but for now I have to file that away in the 'someday' draw until I can make the time! x

[Heart Felt]

Thanks Nin for your lovely comment, Would love to see your someday
draw, I bet its bursting with lots of cool ideas. Jxx

[Margot]

I love them all, Jannelle - but the red cardi with the tui motif is my fave. Can't wait to see the little one in these!

[Heart Felt]

Thanks Margot, I think he will get lots of wear out them....plenty of
cold weather to come.Jx

[Rhiannon]

Do you just use Dylon dye from the chemist? Or do you add something to it to keep the colours looking so lovely and bright? I tried this before Mol was born and ended up with very dull colours indeed!

[Heart Felt]

Dylon from the chemist ~ use white vinegar rather than salt to set the
dye. You have to expect some dye to come out, but when you hand wash
them add some more vinegar to the water.

[Wendy]

Have you ever tried using vegetable dyes at all? I have no knowledge of it whatsoever, but wondered if things like beetroot or tea would take on wool? Just curious.
Your knits are so gorgeous and vibrant, can't wait to see your new arrival!

[Gabrielle]

so gorgeous, I have just got the wee one you made for Arlo out of my attic suitcase of baby clothes here. Can't wait to see your wee boy in all of these x

[Stacey]

They are all so gorgeous Janelle, what a lucky wee baby!

I still have the one I got from you for our little girl (not so little anymore like Sadie). I couldn't bear to part with it. Maybe one day her baby girl might wear it too?

Kind thoughts your way to you and your family on your special arrival.
Sxxx