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   Valerie Aurora (vaurora@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:46 JST Valerie Aurora

   in reply to

   • Annalee

   @Annalee wool feels so good but is so frustrating to work with!! At least it's really expensive too

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:47 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     Since this was just a test swatch and not full yardage, "I have firsthand experience with fixing a botched dye job on wool without ruining the fabric" is also still potentially useful advice, but I'm so frustrated at this point that I'm leaving this fabric alone for a while. It can sit in a bin and think about how terribly it has disappointed me for a while

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:52 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     As for this yardage: I'll try dyeing it a darker color or salvaging enough of it to make something else. I'm extremely disappointed. Cutting the pieces before dyeing might have helped but honestly considering the skirt is made of such gigantic pieces and the wool takes the dye *so fast,* I don't think it would have.

     Part of the reason I didn't want to cut first is that if I cut first and the dye doesn't work right, the fabric cannot be salvaged for another project - it's just straightup ruined.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:53 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     I bought replacement wool in a color I don't really like but it at least doesn't clash with my skin, and I'll be making the riding habit out of that.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:54 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     No advice please: I tried RIT color remover (thankfully on a test swatch) and it completely ruined the wool. It lifted the dye, but once the swatch dried it was stiff and crunchy and had shrunk 10% in one direction and 20% in the other. I tried soaking it in a vinegar solution and it softened somewhat but ripped when I tugged on it gently, so the fibers are clearly damaged beyond saving.

     Lesson learned: use wool as it is or don't buy it.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:54 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     Please note that the previous post starts with "no advice" and contains zero question marks.

     The only exception is if your reply looks like this: "I used RIT color remover once and had the same problem! Here are the exact steps I took that unshrunk the wool afterwards and restored the drape."

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:55 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     My plan right now is to wait until I can cut the pieces, then re-dye try to fully saturate the color. It will be darker than I wanted, but it might work.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:56 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     I've dyed silk plenty of times and even tricky colors always come out great. Wool is the worst.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:56 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     Advice welcome IF you have personally tub-dyed wool with acid dyes before and know how to fix a streaky dye job.

     I know googling the problem and suggesting links comes from a good place, but I too can use a search engine.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:57 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     • maco

     Well, the dye came out super streaky - maddeningly, all on one side along the entire length, so there's no consistent yardage I can use for the skirt.

     @maco suggested I cut out pattern pieces with room for shrinkage so there'd be more room in the dye bath, but I am still resizing the pattern and didn't want to waste the day so I forged ahead.

     And this is what happens when we rush things in sewing.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:38:58 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     I left the pot to cool on the stove - wool is fussy and prefers to change temperature slowly or it'll shock and felt.

     But then I had to get the still - hot wool out of the very large and very full pot, which is itself a four - hand lift onto the stove before it even had the wool in it.

     Spent some time considering syphons before going with a simpler method. Here's how we solve strength tests with int:

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:39:00 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     • maco

     I could tell at 10 that the dye was exhausted - that's why I pulled the first at 10 instead of 20. But I wanted to see if the longer times would shrink or felt the wool. But the wool came through just fine — so @maco and I moved on to the big pot for the full yardage.

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     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:39:01 JST Annalee

     in reply to

     ✨ maaaath ✨

     These four pieces were in the dye bath for 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes each. Can you spot the difference?

     Me either. This dye struck FAST.

   • Embed this notice
     Annalee (annalee@wandering.shop)'s status on Monday, 27-Mar-2023 01:39:03 JST Annalee

     The worsted wool I picked up from B&T for my riding jacket is lovely, but the color clashes with my skin tone. Time to do some math and science.