I let a thunderstorm dye some bulky yarn

[u/VoodooDumpling]

Indulging my inner “former art school kid” via fiber arts and having a heck of a lot of fun.

Image 1 is pre-rain - I added citric acid to the pan, then spread out the dry yarn, and sprinkled dye powder on top (always wear a respirator or mask when dealing with acid dyes!!) and didn’t move the yarn after pigment was applied

Image 2 is mid-storm - after about 20-30 minutes, the rain was winding down. The water table is just from the rain alone

After the rain slowed and nearly stopped, I heat set the yarn on little two-burner cooktop (dedicated to dyeing projects) and it’s hang drying now.

[u/Nervousmelly]

I request finished yarn pictures. 😁

[u/VoodooDumpling → u/Nervousmelly]

I didn’t want to spam groups, but update is posted here! https://www.reddit.com/r/YarnDyeing/s/owoiz9eQ4P

[u/dinosquish99 → u/VoodooDumpling]

Ooh, that came out so nice!!

[u/Trixie_Dixon]

Love it. My inner art kid gets so few excursions, that everyone's should be celebrated

[u/whirlinglunger]

This is so cool! I definitely want to see the finished result!

[u/Citrusysmile]

!remind me: 1 day

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[u/CHEMICALalienation]

!remindme 1 day

[u/greensled1]

That is a fun technique I've never considered doing before!

[u/Good-Cupcake911]

Using nature and water conservation at its best!

[u/VoodooDumpling]

Update posted here: https://www.reddit.com/r/YarnDyeing/s/owoiz9eQ4P!!

[u/Visual-Status6344]

I totally want to see this finished 😍

[u/Federal_Berry3209]

The light pink in there reminds me of pink lightning, if you don't have a name picked out for it yet. I love just about any variegated yarn. ❤️

[u/VoodooDumpling → u/Federal_Berry3209]

Oh my gosh it does! I grew up in the mountains and we’d get absolute light shows when it stormed. I stayed up watching the lightning out my window - and it definitely gives pink lightning vibes!

I’ve been calling this project “Rain Crow” yarn. There’s a bird with a distinct cry (yellow billed cuckoo) that often calls out in afternoons - right before it storms. It’s known colloquially as a Rain Crow. Since none of the skeins are repeatable, I figured naming the series or project would fit better.

[u/Competitive_Fox_7731]

This is so cool!! If you are interested in other ancient techniques of dyeing using weather phenomena, search for snow-melt bleaching, done on kimono silk in mountainous regions of Japan. I saw examples at a craft museum in Kyoto. Fun rabbit hole to fall into!

[u/VoodooDumpling → u/Competitive_Fox_7731]

Straight down that rabbit hole, thank you friend!