Kool-Aid Formulas for 135 Colors

(Scroll down for video)

Go beyond pre-made shades of Kool-Aid. By adding two flavors together, you can make great new colors. The formulas here show you how.

In the top of the first photo, lemonade is added to each other flavor. In the lower half of the photo, orange is added to each flavor.

Each pair of flavors was tested at the ratios 1 to 3, 2 to 2 and     3 to 1.

Flavors used with abbreviations:

Select the shade you want from the photos below.

The chart is read like a multiplication table.

Example:

• #1 is 1 part lemonade and 3 parts orange.


• #2 is 3 parts lemonade and 1 part strawberry.
  
  

Kool-Aid Video!

Here is a short video of my favorite two color formulas on large samples. Ooooo, the colors, the colors!

Base yarn used:
Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool in off-white and also recycled wool from a thrift store sweater. Each sample is .1 oz of yarn.

How the dyestock was made:

• Each packet was mixed with 8 oz of tap water.


• Each pair of flavors was tested at the ratios 1 to 3, 2 to 2 and 3 to 1.


• I used a tablespoon as a measure.


• I didn't simplify the ratio 2:2 as 1:1 because I wanted the same amount of dye in each formula. 1:1 would have produced a lighter shade.

How to use these formulas to make larger hanks.

A general rule of thumb is one packet for each 10 grams of yarn. For sample #1 mix a packet of lemonade with 8 oz of water and a packet of orange with 8 oz of water. Pour 1/4 of the lemonade and 3/4 of the orange into a pan or microwave safe bowl, add your yarn and heat.

Notes on colors:

Lemonade, pink lemonade and ice blue are weak colors. They work fine with each other but get swamped by the red flavors.

If you are using Lemonade, there isn't much difference if the mix is 1 to 3, or 2 to 2 or, 3 to 1 for most colors. The exception is pink lemonade and ice blue.

Orange and lemon-lime are surprisingly useful colors. The orange is great for dulling down color blends. If you need green tones, it is more economical to buy lemon-lime than dozens of packages of lemonade to add to the berry blue.

Strawberry, fruit punch and cherry (not shown) are almost the same color. They are very strong colors.

Did you know you can add other food color to Kool-Aid for dyeing? Turns out there is enough citric acid when Kool-Aid is dissolved in 4 ounces of water to add icing gel or food color drops, and it will still bond.

New flavors include Mixed Berry, Peach Mango, Strawberry Kiwi, and Soaring Strawberry.

No vinegar is needed, Kool-Aid will bond to animal fibers by itself.

Use the unsweetened soft drink mix, not pre-sweetened mixes.

Simple step-by-step instructions with photos of yarn dyed with each flavor.

Can't find the page you want? Here's our site map.

You can dye silk with Kool-Aid, too.

Return from Kool-Aid Formulas to Dye Your Yarn Home Page.