This procedure is very similar to the other methods, because you will prep your yarn the same way, cook it, and rinse it. However, this is a "less fuss" way of doing things that I really like. Directions given assume that you are using Jacquard Acid Dyes, since that's what I always use. This also assumes you are using just one solid color for your yarn, but if you read all the way to the end I'll give you an easy trick for making variegated skeins in the crock pot.
Prepare your supplies:
First thing to do! Measure how many dry skeins fit in the crock pot. If you are going for an even overall color, the skeins should be able to swim freely in the pot (so you might only be able to do 3-4 skeins at once). If you are going for a variegated solid color, they can be a little bit tighter in the pot. But remember you are going to have to add water to this pot so make sure your "number of skeins per batch" allows for water in the crock pot too. (This may seem elementary but I bungled this on a batch of 100% cashmere yarn once and will never forget the frustration!)
Fill the soaking tub with warm water and add the vinegar. Mix it up thoroughly. Place your yarn gently into the vinegar bath. Let it soak for at least an hour.
Meanwhile, fill the crock pot with water (remember that when you add the yarn, the level of water will go up) and add the dye. If you have to do multiple dye batches because you have a lot of yarn, portion your dye accordingly. Mix it up thoroughly. Turn the crock pot on High at the same time you start taking your skeins out of the vinegar bath.
As you take the skeins out of the vinegar, squeeze them over the sink until they are damp but not dripping. Another alternative is to do one batch each day until you're done, instead of queuing up for a few hours' worth of dyeing.
Put your "number of skeins per batch" gently into the dye bath, remembering to push them down under the surface. Put the lid on the crock pot. Fill your soaking tub with clean cool water and walk away for an hour. When the dye bath is done, at the end of that hour, turn off the crock pot and allow the yarn & water to cool to room temperature.
Come back, lift the skeins out of the dye bath, squeeze them gently out, then rinse each one in the soaking tub by placing it in the water, submerging it, holding it there until it is thoroughly wet, and removing it. You want to get each skein to "rinse clear" but if you are dyeing our yarns, you can't be vigorous when rinsing, or you will get felting (with cashmere, angora, wool) or clumping (with silk). So you may have to refill the soaking tub a few times in order to get each skein 'clean.' Don't let the running water run over the yarn.
After the skeins rinse clear and are squeezed out, hang them up somewhere to dry. I have used a tension-mount shower curtain rod mounted low over the tub (when the weather is too bad to allow outside drying), or a broomstick laid across the backs of two lawn chairs (when the weather is good). I've heard of friends hanging skeins from tree branches, which should give a festive look to your property! In any case it should be somewhere 'safe' (from children, inclement weather, and animals). When I put mine on the lawn chairs they were always on the front porch in case it suddenly began to rain.
Repeat for as many dye baths as it will take.
Check them periodically by squeezing the bottom part of the skein. The tops will dry quickly because the water is being pulled down by gravity. Anyway, once they are all thoroughly dry, you can take them down and work them, enjoying the beautiful colors. Here is some Belacane yarn that I dyed using the crock-pot method.
If you want to get a variegated look to your skeins, proceed as above but do not add the dye to the crock pot until after the skeins are in. Instead, mix up the dyes in coffee cups, squeeze bottles, whatever (squeeze bottles are about 80 cents at Dharma Trading Company, so you can get them with your dye order) using a little water and the correct amount of dye you will need for your total project. Remember to divide each color by the number of total colors you are using (that is, if you are dyeing a pound of yarn and using three colors, you will only need 1/2 jar of dye total (to cover the weight of the yarn), then divide that by 3, once for each color). Take the yarn out of the vinegar bath, squeeze it as before, lay it in the crock pot, submerge it, then use your dyes to make areas of color in the crock pot.
Place the colors more or less in a "pie chart" type of method. Because you are placing the colors in water, there will be quite a bit of overlap, in fact, if you desire any degree of accuracy at all, don't use this method! Go back to "Handpaint Your Own Roving and Yarn." This technique I describe is for people who like to experiment. You may even end up with some brown where the dyes all flowed together.
Don't add any yarn to the pot after the dyes have been added. This will further blend the dyes.
Otherwise, proceed as above once the hour of crock pot cooking is done.
Enjoy your beautiful yarns! If you have any questions, please email me at donna@us-picks.com.