About Naturally Dyed Yarn (What to Expect)
All yarns were thorougly rinsed by me after dyeing. Yet there might be occational crocking: some colour might rub off on your hands. This does not mean that the yarn bleeds, but that there are still some excess colour-pigments stuck to the yarn.
For best results briefly wash and rinse your finished project with a little of a mild, ph-buffered soap. That way you will enjoy your new garment for a long time. I do NOT recommend a longer soak.
What to Expect of Indigo-Dyes
Indigo is a very unique dye. Unlike other dyes, it does not form a chemical bond with the fiber, rather, the dye molecule is physically trapped in the fiber molecules, effectively dyeing your fiber blue.
What does it all mean?
It means that when the fiber is physically worked, some of the blue indigo molecules become untrapped, and rub off (or crock). Jeans were originally dyed with indigo, and many will remember how on initially wearing your new jeans, some of the blue would rub off on you.
Now wearing a jeans is a pretty extreme case compared to using yarn, yet there can me some crocking of very dark indigo-dyes (blues, greens & purples) on your hands & needles. This can be washed off easily as some of the indigo rubbed off on your hands but did not get trapped on your hand through the dye-process.
As with all naturally dyed yarns, wash & rinse them upon completion with a little of a mild, ph-buffered soap.
What NOT to do:
Never – and I mean N-E-V-E-R – use vinegar or any other acid on your botanically or naturally dyed yarns or finished projects!
Acids can destroy the chemical bond between your yarn and the botanical dyes. Eco-Printers use this effect to create stunning artwork – but you do not want your lovingly knitted/crochet project to get unintentionally ruined.