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For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Posts: 3,540
I just wanted to share a pic of my Kool Aide samples....
I can't see the pics.
Jane
Posts: 3,540
Nuts...I was trying to resize them, but now they're so small, I'm not sure that's going to be a big help!
....let me try once more...
Okay, that's a little bit better... I started with a creamy tan coloured mohair, the square in the center (although it looks reddish in the pic) In the upper lefthand corner was the mohair soaked 1 hour and 24 hours in lemon lime. I'm afraid Dilu said it could take a dye better if left longer, and I got sick that night, so conked out early and didn't get these rinsed until MUCH later than I'd expect 
I can't say as I was expecting shock lemon yellow from a 'green' Kool aide dye! You can really see the difference between the two samples.
The upper righthand corner was Arctic green for an hour, and there wasn't much noticeable change...only a sorta moss colour in strong sunlight, and a funky moss at that.
The lower row is Berry Blue, Ice Raspberry, and Berry Blue and Lemon Lime....all for an hour.
Sorry I didn't get a better picture....can you see any differences, or have I just been staring at my mohair squares too long?? 
ToadBriarhave you been heating the dye & mohair?
if I had to wait hours for stuff to happen....
nothing would happen! lol I am NOT
patient.
I do mine in a heavy ziploc bag in a mixing
bowl (in case of leaks) in the microwave.
3 mins on high, 3 mins to rest, & then
check the color of the water. if the water
is not clear or milky, it goes in for more
cooking. it's done when all the dye has
gone into the fibers & the water is clear
or milky. All the color gets driven into the
wool.
then you rinse with a bit of detergent til the
rinsewater runs clear.
each square looks a different color to me!
I think you got some exciting results!
it just seems to have taken ages!
Posts: 3,540Well I don't have a microwave....long story... and I can be patient enough for the Kool Aid to set. I was following the direction in Nancy Tillberg's book "101 Teddys to Make". I'm not sure if I'd trust myself with the Rit dyes... :redface: I tend to be a bit of a klutz, so I can imagine me more tie dyed than the mohair!!! 
Normally I work with real fur, so this has just been a bit of play and good fun for me :dance:
Posts: 8,574I just use boiling water.....and I use zip lock bags and I use 2 or 3 packages.....and it happens really fast.....i also use wet mohair and felt...
DebbieD Your colors came about pretty kool....do you have a preferance?
dilu
Posts: 3,540I do like the muted colours from the Berry Blue mix and the Berry Blue with Lemon Lime has given me a lovely shade of green to work with. Its not emerald green, but then I was working with a tannish cream colour to start with, so I'm not surprised the colours are more muted.
I've been tempted to try a reddish colour in hopes of a dusty plum type colour, but I've got to stay focused and get my swap bear finished first!
Pandy Potter BearsWhat lovely colours Deb. You have tempted me to try, now to ebay to find it!
Posts: 8,574ebay?
Amanda if you have kool-ade, wouldn't it be in your grocery store, or something just like it....?
It is fun to do; especially if you are hankering for a color that isn't in style-
I love being able to mix my own colors.... we will be interested in your color creations
DebbieD I never thought of trying it on the colored mohairs-hmmmmmm
good idea....
dilu
Posts: 3,540 It wasn't as if I had a choice! I didn't' have a white mohair, so I picked my lightest blonde and went for it....and I have to say, I'm thrilled with the results!
:hug: MANY thanks to Tammy, my swap partner for letting me experiment with the Kool Aide dyes :hug: I'm not sure I would have been brave enough if she hadn't said "Go for it!" 
Oh yes, and I did soak my mohair in warm water for 15 minutes before adding the pieces to the dye. For the dye, I mixed one packet of each colour (or just the one packet if it was a straight colour) to one cup of warm water. I didn't want to do hot water, as I was worried it would 'fry' my mohair and turn it frizzy.
After an hour, or 24 hours in the one case, I rinsed thoroughly with warm water til the water ran clear. Then I spread the pieces on paper towels on the kitchen table and used my nap brush to brush the fur the way I wanted, and let them dry. For me its been a fairly safe, not so scary process 
And a LOT of fun!!!
Hi Debbie,
I'll try to be as coherent as I can....I have the flu....and a raging fever. I was only checking in to TT for a second just to see what everyone is chatting about when I saw your Kool Aid results topic posted.
BRAVO! Isn't it fun? Did you sort of feel like a junior chemist? If you want a lovely plum color go for Dark Cherry. If you want to pump up the color intensity when you're dyeing your mohair the temperature of the dye needs to be higher. I boil my dye on the stove, let it cool a bit, dunk the pre-moistened mohair in and then check, check, check to see how it's coming along. Sometimes the mohair really grabs the dye FAST that's why I check, check, check it. Also, your ratio of water to dye makes a difference too. Keep a journal of your findings!! It's fun to look back at what you did.....especially if you want to recreate a particular color.
You're right about the color shade difference when using a color other than white mohair to dye. Blonde or tan colors do make the most lovely muted shades. Might I also suggest wearing heavy duty rubber gloves. They'll save your fingers and nails from turning all those lovely Kool-Aid colors and they also protect your hands from the heat when you wring out your mohair. 
Warmest Kool Aid hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Past Time BearsOoooh, Aleta, so sorry you feel bad! Guess all of us will postpone our trip to see your work room - er, you - until you get better. Chicken soup for you, girl!
fribbles, ltd...would this work on upholstery fabric also, not just mohair? Or is it a problem dying synthetics? I have loads of Kool-Aid 'cause we were doing the Atkins diet and I wound up buying the sugared Kool-Aid rather than the sugarFREE Kool-Aid, and I was just going to donate it to the food bank, but if it can be used for dying...!! Perfect!
I would like to give a try to dying some of my white medium pile upholstery fabric, as am a wee bit penniless right now and just adding to my when-I've-got-a-whole-load-to-blow-sassyfabrics-wishlist---I have Rit dye too. Am off to search the discussions for more dying tips!
Amelia
Posts: 3,540I've no idea if Kool Aide will hold for synthetics or not. Your best bet would be to try small samples (I used roughly one inch by two inches ...ishish) and see what you get!
I'm on the Atkins diet as well ...or rather, a healthier diet as I see it! So you're not alone :hug:
Aleta thank you so much for those dying tips....I see dark cherry in my future !!! But you go get better, okay? Gosh, that sounds awful.... 
Hi Debbie,
Thought I would post a picture of a bear I overdyed with Black Cherry Kool-Aide. I started with an awful, bright orange/red, mohair. It was just too "out there" for me and I had to hit myself upside the head for buying it. What was I thinking? Anyway, the last time I was dying fabric I decided to throw a section of the ghastly stuff into a Black Cherry bath. Voila! A lovely dark antique red. I was so pleased with the results that next time I do a bunch of dyeing I'll plop the rest of the mohair into the same Kool-Aide. I get different results when using white mohair though. The mohair then turns a beautiful deep plum/red color. Recipe: 3 cups boiling water to 1 packet Kool-Aide mix. Adjust cups to packets as needed to make sure your mohair is covered completely.
Warmest hugs, :hug:
Aleta
ToadBriarah I lurve your black cherry bear!
these red bears are really growing on me...
I am used to not being jazzed about
'funny color' bears but those antique
red guys keep charming me...
Posts: 3,540Proof positive you can turn any colour mohair into something you truly love Aleta your bear is WONDERFUL!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing, not only the pic (gorgeous bear!!!!), but also the 'directions' for getting the colours
