Lovely colourways. The stickiness sounds like the yarn is felting ever so slightly. I find it's important to be reallllly careful to heat and cool the yarn very gradually, and to handle it super-gently when it's wet. Of course, it shouldn't matter if it's machine-washable, but sometimes it seems to anyway.

I think the stickiness is still to do with the mordant (which unfortunately is part of the dye so I can't change the quantity). But yes - being very careful with the felting too! Seems to be going ok in that respect ^_^ haven't had any disasters yet

What brand of dye are you using? I generally use Landscape dyes, and I haven't had any trouble with stickiness. It wouldn't have occured to me that the mordant might have that effect.

Would it be worth trying a vinegar rinse to see if that helps?

The black was landscape but the blue isn't - I'll give a rinse a a go :)

This is aawesome