Dyeing wool and my sunny daydream

In my last post I was showing you my new wool packets. They have been decorating my studio, adding a burst of color wherever they are. But I am mailing them away and so today is a day to dye more colorful wool.

My stash is getting low on my special colors. I have been procrastinating about heading to the dye pots because my sad stove is in need of help! The big burner on the right is just not working right. I have replaced the coil, but it still isn’t working. I am having difficulty finding another cooktop that has the same burner arrangement. So consequently I have felt stuck.

So in the meanwhile I had been looking at the new induction hot plates. I just bought one to try out for the dye kitchen.

What was previously keeping me from buying one was that you needed to buy induction ready pots and pans. They are expensive and do not come in a big enough sized pot for dyeing wool. But then I discovered that any pot that has a flat bottom and that also can hold a magnet will work on induction hot plates. And many enamel pots fit the bill. I saw that my large red enamel stock pot worked in a test drive, and I was in business!

The red pot is big enough to hold a large dye batch. I found this pot at my local BiMart store. I have not found another source for them online. If you don’t have a BiMart near you, you might try searching out a flat bottom enamel ware canning pot and seeing if that works. If the hot plate turns on, then it works. If it does not turn on, then sadly the process can’t work. Period.

I found that the induction hot plate heated up the water just as well as my electric stove top heating element, and it actually kept the water at a gentle boil better and with more control. What is also nice about it is that it doesn’t heat up what is under it, and it takes a regular wall plug. All in all I am excited about the possibilities. And for those of you who do dye demonstrations, in my opinion this may be the ticket!

Time to fill my wool orders. And so I am happily immersed in this sunny day-dream.

This is my perfect place to be — surrounded by beautiful colored textiles!

Thanks for joining me today. Have you had your color fix yet?

All for now ~ Karen