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Post by zed on Jul 30, 2013 10:01:31 GMT
I need an off white thread for blanket stitching some natural white felt. I'm not really in the mood for spinning and I only have super bright white thread (embroidery and Perle 5) I tried some thread with coffee-nice beige; a very quick dip in tea, gave a slight pink tinge, another tea one was far too pink so I put onion skins in and pinked it up more. I think it needs something slightly yellowy. I tried really watered down turmeric, but the briefest of dips gave a bright yellow and didn't rinse away Any ideas what I could try?
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Post by lyn on Jul 30, 2013 11:27:42 GMT
Hello Zed - this might be nuts, so try it on a teensy bit of embroidery thread first.
Have you got any yellow embroidery thread? If you have, dunk it in dilute bleach then rinse it thoroughly. The bleach won't make the thread white but it might just leave it a creamy colour.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 30, 2013 12:32:21 GMT
Do you have any black walnut trees near by? The nuts make a brown. A brief dip might do it. Off white is hard without it taking a tint of another colour. Be careful with black walnuts they stain everything.
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Post by MTRuth on Jul 30, 2013 16:57:37 GMT
With the bleach idea, I would use "Bleach Stop" afterwards. It is really hard to get bleach all the way out otherwise. It might make your thread weak eventually.
I think the walnut ink might work if it was very diluted. Or you could try overdyeing the pinky colors with a yellow from something like dandelions. Seems a lot of work though.
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Post by jufergu on Jul 30, 2013 19:29:32 GMT
I do a lot of fabric dyeing. I sometimes throw threads in and get good matching colors. I do know that they do something to wool roving to get it so white. It surely is not natural for a sheep to be so white. What do they use?
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Post by billieanne on Jul 30, 2013 21:01:29 GMT
Zed, I'm still so new to all of this but what about colored magic makers or food coloring or saffron (I use it in bread, saffron not the markers)Billie
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 30, 2013 22:52:56 GMT
Judy some sheep are that white, some are cream. You can really see a difference if you put them side by side. It always amazes me how much dirt comes out of white wool when I soak it for dyeing.
Maybe a diluted walnut over the pinky tea one.
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Post by billieanne on Jul 31, 2013 1:23:14 GMT
Don't know why I keep coming back to this because I know nothing about dyeing....but. Could you bake the thread in your oven?
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 31, 2013 2:09:46 GMT
That might work I don't know if it would weaken the cotton thread.
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Post by zed on Jul 31, 2013 9:19:47 GMT
Interesting ideas, thanks everyone Bleach is a good idea, but I do know about it weakening stuff and don't have bleach stop, maybe a very dilute solution. I do have some brown threads so I could try a few. I think saffron might just be an expensive version of the turmeric, it is really pricey here. I did see a tutorial for walnut dyes yesterday oddly enough. A lady from Kentucky Blue Fiber commented on the studio site and I found it looking through her website, it looks interesting. kentuckybluefiber.wordpress.com/category/tutorials-and-how-to/dyeing-with-black-walnuts/I'll let you know what I end up doing Oh, Billie, the markers idea is a good one, I saw someone on youtube dyeing/painting silk with sharpies.
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Post by koffipot on Jul 31, 2013 10:55:41 GMT
Hydrogen Peroxide is a bleach stopper - inexpensive too. In fact that makes me wonder about using Hydrogen Peroxide as the bleaching agent! ??
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Post by jufergu on Jul 31, 2013 13:36:29 GMT
I have used the markers on silk scarves with good results. And the color will dilute with a spray of alcohol.
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Post by zed on Jul 31, 2013 16:14:10 GMT
I'll see if I can find hydrogen peroxide then, thanks Judith Oh, I forgot to mention the alcohol with the sharpies, Judy I have some of that now actually, I might mess around with some silk.
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Post by koffipot on Jul 31, 2013 19:35:12 GMT
Is that the Whisky, Vodka, Brandy or just the Meths. variety Zed?
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Post by jufergu on Jul 31, 2013 20:58:12 GMT
I only drink coffee or tea, so I would recommend the rubbing kind. lol
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