Kool-Aid Dyed Yarn DIY Plant Pot

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With warm weather here and summer vacation looming ahead, I’ve been planning fun summer DIY projects that I can make with my kiddos.  I decided to to design a 2-step craft project (that way I could spend more crafting time with my children) and create a Kool-Aid Dyed Yarn DIY Plant Pot.

Did you know that you can dye yarn with Kool-Aid?  How cool (pun intended) is that?! Just think of all the bright, happy summer colors of Kool-Aid and imagine the dyed yarn you can create.

Step 1 – Kool-Aid Dyed Yarn

Supplies 

Yarn – you need to use wool or alpaca yarn for the yarn to take the dye well

Kool-Aid – purchase the Kool-Aid without sugar (you want the packets that tell you to add sugar when you mix it).  Be sure to look at the color of the pitcher that the Kool-Aid Man is holding to know what color your  dye will be (sometimes the packet color is not the same as the actual Kool-Aid color). You’ll want 1-2 packets for each ounce of yarn. Depending on the color and the amount of yarn you’re dying, you’ll want to use 2 packets for a more vivid color.

I divided my 2 skeins of yarn into 5 different balls of yarn to match my packets of Kool-Aid (I mixed the yellow and green Kool-Aid together to make a more vivid green color of dye).   You can loosely roll your yarn into a ball to create a more ombre effect with the outer yarn resulting in a darker color than the center of the yarn.  If you’d prefer a more uniform dye color, do not wind the yarn into a ball, but keep it loose.

Thoroughly soak the ball in water.  Fill a pot with water so that it just covers the ball of yarn (the ball of yarn may float at first but will sink as more water is absorbed).

Mix the Kool-Aid packet well into the water and set it on the cook-top with the heat on medium.  Once the pot starts steaming, lower the heat until you can maintain the steaming heat level.  Periodically rotate the ball of yarn to make sure the entire ball of yarn is dyed.  If you keep your yarn loose and not rolled into a ball, gently stir the yarn occasionally (be careful not to stir vigorously or the yarn may begin felting).

Keep the pot on the cooktop until the brightly colored water become clear or slightly cloudy.  At this point, the yarn has absorbed the Kool-Aid dye. How cool (pun intended again)!  It took 10-20 minutes for my yarn to absorb the Kool-Aid dye. My daughter wanted me to let you know that the smell of the heated Kool-Aid is very strong and unappealing to some people.

Carefully drain the water from the pot.  I left the yarn in the pot until it cooled and then gently squeezed excess water from the yarn  I then plaecd the yarn on several towels to dry.  It took about a day and a half to completely dry.  Do not roll the dyed yarn into a ball until it’s completely dried.  Once the yarn is dry it still smells like the flavor Kool-Aid used as the dye.  Both my kiddos and I found that so interesting and almost magical.

Step 2 – DIY Plant Pot

Supplies

Kool-Aid Dyed Yarn 

Recycled Plastic Containers – I used a yogurt container and a feta cheese container

Hot Glue Gun – your favorite hot glue gun

Double stick Tape – a small amount of double stick tape is all you need

Add a small dot of yarn to secure the yarn to the recycled container.  You can use dots of hot glue to secure the yarn to the container as you wrap it around the container.  I found it easiest to use the hot glue to start the yarn but then use double-stick tape alternated with hot glue to keep the yarn in place as I wrapped it around the container. Secure the final end of the yarn with the hot glue.

I added plants and voila! We had some fun happy plant pots. 

I love how the Kool-Aid dye created such vivid summery colors.

This patriotic plant pot is my favorite. The simplicity and the vivid colors say All-American summer.

My kids and I had so much fun creating these Kool-Aid Dyed Yarn DIY Plant pots and are already brainstorming more dyed yarn projects.

Have you ever tried dyeing yarn?

More Summer Crafts

DIY Pool Storage – Uses for an Empty Kitty Litter Container

Tie-Dyed T-Shirt Quilt Picnic Blanket

Hawaiian Beach Glass Party Lanterns