> Today I dyed socks. This is not easy. First you have to soak them in
> soda ash and water to make them accept the dye. They really don't want
> to, they like to be white. They don't like to be tickled by stripes or
> have stars painted on them. They like to remain as they arrived. BUT,
> I FORCE THEM!
> I mix up the dye, in lime, and red, and robin's egg blue, and
> beautiful marigold and turquoise. Some I put on the reluctant socks
> with foam paintbrushes, some I squirt on with needle nose bottles. And
> the wet socks suddenly have a change of heart, they WANT to be
> colored! They soak up the dye, every color another joy, they even try
> to spread the colors on top of each other! I have to be vigilant,
> otherwise those darned wet socks will spread the dye all over. The
> toes are the worst, they take up more dye than the heel, let alone the
> foot. They suck it up and keep the most, getting the darkest and
> brightest colors.
> Then it's time for resting, wrapped and kept warm in plastic wrap,
> like a sandwich, for 24 hours. The socks are happy, snuggled two
> together, enjoying the nap and the heat. I am impatient, wondering
> what has happened in the wait time, will the colors be what I
> planned, and what will be the surprises? Because there are always
> surprises, it's art, not science, for me. And for the socks.
> Time for bathing, wash after wash after wash, cold, then warm, then
> hot. The last bath is a bubble bath, in special suds that keep the
> extra color that the socks don't need, sharing them with the septic
> tank and the gardens. Into the dryer, then the magic appears. I open
> the door and behold, like Joseph's magic technicolor coat, the socks
> are beautiful and full of color! They have surprises galore, with reds
> and yellows segueing into orange, blues and marigold joining to become
> emerald green. A feast for the eyes, and toast for the toes. All done!