Self Patterning Sock Yarn

I've been mulling the concept around in my head since before I saw Opal brand yarns. Before it was for a sweater, and I might have to start worsted weight and work my way down with experiments. I hypothesize, people can make DIY self-patterning sock yarn. All it would take is patience, animal fiber yarn, kool-aid, or food coloring, and some white vinegar.

It's a kool-aid dyeing / food color dyeing experiment and well...

So here's what I will do(cause I love experimenting):

Knit a 2 inch, 2 row swatch. Then count the number of stitches. Then tie a piece of crochet thread just past the final stitch(like touching it actually, but past it). Count stitches, unravel, and measure unravelled length of yarn.

Divide # of stitches by length of yarn(or vice versa, need to experiment). Then draw pattern on graph paper, with each square representing a stitch. Some folks say to use knitter's graph paper, but me, I can visualize pretty well with plain graph paper.

Fold yarn in half, just find the ends and carefully find the center, to fold it all in half. Then use a ruler and graph paper as guide to dye placement. Then with a medicine dropper and highly concentrated dye(full strength food color + vinegar or kool-aid with the tiniest bit of water/vinegar added) use medicine droppers to place the dye along the lenth of the yarn, with 2-4 damp but not dripping paper towels beneath each length of yarn. Leave a small band of white each time to allow for color bleed.

Each time you finish a length be it a foot or a yard, roll the yarn & paper towel up in plastic wrap, it's like a yarn jelly roll. You'll want breaks so make a note of the last color and it's pattern position. If you want solid color cuffs make an allowance for it at the ends and place the dye there.

Place the jelly roll in the microwave and steam it per usual, or even steam it in a pot with a rack, whatever works and doesn't melt the plastic.

Don't forget to mist the sections lightly with water so they don't dry out and even burn in the microwave. Lightly mist or colors will surely bleed.

Knit and pray for the best :).

Pre-Draft~Draft...Am I Spinning Up Fiber or Writing a Book?

I pre-drafted some of the wool. It goes against some advice, and totally with other advice. But it's only like 1/3 of it, so I don't feel bad and besides if it really makes a difference I'll get to see it in the process :). If I can get consistently thin yarn I'll probably kool-aid or food color dye each ply a seperate color gradient, and then ply them together. So Red+Blue+Purple or Blue+Yellow+Green in a sunset sort of color path:). Of course Red+Yellow+Orange would look spiffy too:D.

I'm still building the wheel. If you're curious you can check out the 411 with no pics yet @ spinning on a dime.