Okay – so you’ve dyed your string and now you need to get it back into shape for your projects. Welcome back! I am assuming a big ol’ messy blob of floss isn’t going to work out for you, so follow the next set of steps for skeins that look almost professional! Plus, stick around at the end of the post for a FREE embroidery pattern (actually the reason I even wanted tie dye thread to begin with!)
If you haven’t yet dyed your string, check out the first steps here!
For this today’s portion of the DIY, you will be needing: your dyed floss, two thumbtacks, two really long nails, one post it for each skein, tape.
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STEP 1: Unwrap your string and very, very gently rinse all of the dye under a gentle stream of water. Use your fingers to squeeze out the dye and water as you go. Hang up and allow to dry. Take your string and give it a second rinse and be sure that the water runs completely clear before allowing it to dry again. It’s best to place it someplace with a breeze. I put mine on the door knob of my back door!
STEP 2: Only start doing this step if your string is 100% dry. I took two push pins and used them to hold up my floss and hanger contraption. A couple inches below that, drive some really long nails into the wall. You need about an inch and a half or two inches of the nails sticking out of the wall.
STEP 3: Very gently locate the end of your string. The one you tied off last. Snip it close to the knot you made and begin unwinding. I just let mine fall straight as it’d please into a pile right on the floor. When you get to a knot for the next skein, snip your thread. Tie that end onto the left nail. It doesn’t have to be a tight knot, just enough to keep it on the nail at first.
STEP 4: Wind the string over the tops of the nails and under the bottoms. Wind just in front of the previous pass. Use your fingers to push the string back against itself, giving yourself more room to wind and keeping your thread cleanly tucked together.
STEP 5: When you reach the end of your thread, take a post it note and shove it between the wall and the floss. Begin bunching together to form the skein and get your post it not are ound the thread once. Gently remove one of the nails from the wall and help the floss drop down. Continue wrapping the post it around the thread, keeping it fairly tight. Use a piece of tape to ensure the post it stays in place.
Click the image to the left to download the FREE PDF pattern!
Hope your Wednesday is Wonderful!!!
Written by Allison Murray - Visit Website
Inspiring! Thank you!
Thanks for the sweet comment and stopping by, Kim!
I love finding new and wonderful Blogs! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you Margaret for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment!
I finished it! Thank you for the pattern. I didn't dye my floss but I used variegated because I loved the effects. People like my finished work too, so thank you !
It looks great, Denise! You are so very welcome. Wanna see Denise's results? Head over to her blog Way Out Where? and check it out!
Love, Love, Love this pattern with the variegated yarn. Can't wait to make it.
I am so glad Traci :)
Hi Allison, I just found your blog on craftgawker . It's charming and inventive and I' ve bookmarked it so I can come back whenever I want !
Thanks so much, inkyring – glad to have you!
Is this just backstitch?
It is, Tori.