Yarn dye on hands

[babs_bee]

I was at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival last weekend and bought some Tilli Thomas Artisan Sock Yarn. I got in the 3 different colorways because I'm making the Color Affection Shawl.

Right now I'm using the black yarn and til I get done knitting, my hands are completely black with the dye. I did do a swatch with the black, light, and blue colors and the black didn't bleed into my swatch when I soaked it and dried it. But I am still kind of paranoid about it!

The dye does come off my hands very easily when I wash them. I don't see any dye going down the drain or even in the suds so I'm really wondering where all of it comes from (and where it goes). Or even if it truly is dye or if it's kind of like a coating that's on the yarn.

My plan for soaking once the shawl is done--cool water, SOAK or Eucalan. Do you think I should throw in one of those dye catcher sheets for laundry just in case?

Comments

[hellkitty]

You might try vinegar or some other mordant for the dye to stop the bleeding and lock it into the fibers?

[babs_bee]

Ah good idea! I knew there was something that I could add and for the life of me I couldn't remember what it was.

[evilawyer]

I second this.

[neotoma]

If the dye is coming off so much in knitting, I'd use synthrapol or another textile detergent in the first wash after finishing.

[evilawyer]

Damn, but I see can Dharma Trading Company from Highway 101 when I have to go up to Santa Rosa for work! I had no idea they were a fiber art supply store. I'm going to have to wrap up early next time I go up the North Bay and stop in. Thanks for those links!