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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 6, 2014 18:18:54 GMT
Mindy, I had the same issues with Wilton icing gels--I really thought the colors were garish at first but I did not have any issues in the dyeing process because I did soak the wool first in the vinegar wash. My issue with the food coloring method is that when you use the wool for wet-felting, the color runs or bleeds into the surrounding wool. If you were strictly using the wool for needle-felt, it would not be a problem.
After you are through experimenting with food colors, you might want to try the acid dyes. A bit more involved but worth it, in my opinion.
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mindy
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by mindy on Jun 6, 2014 18:40:46 GMT
Hi:) yeah, I had the same results again. HOT pink. so I decided to try their blue, thinking that with the color breaking, the blue might break into some purples. Which it did to an extent. Still got some pink and then some blues. Interesting. I threw the hot pink in with the blue along with some white wool, and it got a little darker, with more blues and some purples. So maybe cross dying is an answer...but it's still not the colors I want. Hmmm. Silly question. Is acid dyes the same as Rit dyes?
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mindy
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by mindy on Jun 6, 2014 18:41:52 GMT
Also, was going to post a pic... But am not sure how to do that?
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 6, 2014 20:20:30 GMT
Hi Mindy, if you want to post a pic use the reply button at the top right instead of the quick reply. You will have an option to add an attachment as long as it's under 1 MB. Good luck, I look forward to seeing it.
I haven't used icing gels, only acid, procion and Jacquard silk green dyes which work well on wool and doesn't require steaming if you use the dye concentrate set with it and just let it dry. That said, you will get more permanent colors with steaming. Just remember you need dedicated equipment (stainless steel pot for the stove for steaming) or a microwave and glass or plastic bowls. Once you use the equipment including microwave with the chemicals you should never use it for food. check out your local thrift stores or garage sales for some bargains, if you don't have extra equipment laying around.
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 6, 2014 23:24:37 GMT
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 7, 2014 12:11:17 GMT
An enamel pot will work for dying too. it should not have any chips or cracks in the enamel. the iron in the pot will effect the dyes if it is exposed.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 7, 2014 12:30:51 GMT
I used a stainless steel pot, formerly used for pasta. Nice size, with the steamer basket. No worries about chipping with stainless steel! Dharma has directions on their site about how to use the dyes.
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mindy
Junior Member
Posts: 16
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Post by mindy on Jun 7, 2014 22:03:20 GMT
Oh, ok:) will check that out. Thanks guys! Ps. Did you mean you have a microwave dedicated to dying? I can find extra if the other equipment easily, but not sure about a microwave.....
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 7, 2014 22:31:02 GMT
Yes, if you're going to use acid or Procion dyes, you'll need a dedicated microwave if that's your preferred method. If you have an old stainless steamer pot, you can use that instead of a microwave but it's not as fast. Try hard sales or thrift stores for any used equipment. Sometimes you can get lucky and find a good deal. Good luck!
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 8, 2014 13:36:31 GMT
Ask around, many people have an old one in storage in the garage. I got mine from a friend who was getting a new one.
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Post by lauraann on Jun 13, 2014 20:16:11 GMT
I tried to dye with Wilton icing colors, but got such garish colors that I wasn't happy at all. I also used some of the green and my alpaca fiber turned purple. The colors also bled a lot whenever I used them for wet felting. It's definitely worth it to buy acid dyes.
My choice of dyes are Majic Carpet acid dyes, which many rug hookers use to dye wool with. They come in a set of 14 colors and I use about 1/8 of a teaspoon to dye about half a pound of fiber. I ordered mine from a place in Canada almost two years ago, and use them all the time. Has anyone else ever heard of them?
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 13, 2014 22:32:59 GMT
No, but I t sounds like a good deal and a lot of choices.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 14, 2014 12:02:11 GMT
I looked up magic carpet dye and it seems to be a brand sold on rug hooking sites only. That probably means they are repackaged by somene in the rug industry and then marketed to rug hookers. They are acid dyes and I find that the info is misleading. to say that they have a WHMIS rating of 0 so they are "are accepted back into the environment causing no imbalance" is not the same as saying safe for the environment or you. I would not pour vinegar into the garden or many other safe things. the dyes in a powder form as dangerous to inhale. once they are in liquid form they are fairly safe.
RIT is a union dye. It has acid dye and fiber reactive dye in it. so you are throwing out half your dye each time you use it.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 14, 2014 12:31:39 GMT
That's very useful information! I have never used RIT dyes but also never knew they combined acid with fiber reactive dyes. I agree, one has to be very careful about disposing chemicals/dyes into the garden and labels can be very misleading!
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Post by lauraann on Jun 14, 2014 12:53:03 GMT
I always wear a mask whenever I dye with acid or MX dyes. And I never have used RIT dyes, but didn't know they were combined. I use citric acid for wool, as I don't like the whole house to smell like vinegar when I'm dyeing--it's not my favorite thing to smell.
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