My Dyeing Results

[Deleted]

Hi All

Yesterday I tried dyeing some of my wool, this is only the second time I have done any dyeing so it is a lot of trial and error at the moment.
I dyed two fleece types of fleece - cream and grey in both purple and green dye. I used dylon cold water dye and heated them in the microwave.
Here are the four pieces of fleece drying over my bath.

I shall be dyeing some more once these have dried, the middle of Winter probably isn't the best time to dry lots of wool!!

Hellie

[Shepherdess]

Dyeing is so much fun isn't it. If you want it to dry faster spin them out in your salad spinner.

[zed]

Wow, they turned out well, Hellie! Did you use the regular Dylon meant for cotton? Did you add vinegar to fix? They worked better than when I used Dylon on cotton fabric!

[Deleted]

Hellie,your dyed fibers look great...

[Deleted]

Ann, yes it is, I'm going to do some more tomorrow. I had thought of using a salad spinner, I think I need to buy one just for wool, I don't think fibers in our salad will go down very well!!
Zed thanks and yes I used regular Dylon fabric dye that comes in a small 50g packet of powder, it's just under £3.00 a packet. I used normal table salt as the fix as recommended on the packet and soaked the wool in plain warm water for an hour before dyeing it.
Judy, thanks.

[Shepherdess]

That is expensive dye. If you are going to keep at it I would recommend you get some acid dyes.

[Deleted]

Do you think so, I only used a tsp of it, so I thought it was quiet reasonable, I'll have a look into acid dyes.

[MTRuth]

Great results. I agree with Ann, acid dyes work the best with wool and other animal fiber.

[Deleted]

Thanks Ruth.
I have had a quick look and a 10g pot of Ashfords dye is £5.20, I will have to work out how that compares.
Here in the UK most things are more expensive than in the US.

[MTRuth]

Zed will know where to get the least expensive dyes in the UK. Not sure I remember which kind she uses.

[zed]

I did get some Ashford dyes, a Red, Yellow and Blue set ages ago, probably around £10. After that I ordered some from some Scottish site, they came in small grip seal bags, so I'm guessing they weighted them out from huge pots!

World of Wool Eurolana dyes are £2.50 for 10g. I use 1/2 of a 1ml (tiny) measuring spoon to make up just under 100ml of dye. It goes quite a long way. All that stuff I dyed the other day was probably 1ml each of Red, Yellow, Blue and Black, plus half a teal and half a turquoise.

[Pandagirl]

Hi Hellie, great results! Yes do use any equipment for dyeing only for dyeing. You can get some great bargains at thrift stores or just watch the sales.

Dyeing is fun. Do you keep track of what you're using and your process? I started doing that when I first started to dye. Now it depends on how much of a hurry I'm in. :-) Have fun!

[koffipot]

Some nice results there Hellie. It's fun and sometimes surprising to see the results.

As zed says Eurolana dyes from World of Wool are a good price and they are very concentrated and a 10g pot goes a very long way. Animal fibres dye best in an acid medium and soaking them in a water and white vinegar solution before dyeing helps the dye to 'take', also add a little vinegar in the dye solution. Vegetable fibres are best done in an alkaline medium, make up a weak solution of washing soda and water to alkalise the dye.

I like to dye in the microwave too, though it's best to have a designated one. I had an old one in the garage but it died on me (pun intended)!


For small amounts, such as throwsters silk waste, nepps, carrier rods etc. I stand jam jars in a plastic box and then nuke them in the microwave. Makes handling easier and makes less mess.

flic.kr/p/aM74d2

[Deleted]

Thanks Zed and Judith, I will look into World of Wool when I need some more dye.
I'm using our old microwave in the garage and all my equipment is just for dyeing, I have been saving old jam jar and have repurposed some old platic boxes that had crackers in. I knew there was a good reason not to throw old tubs and boxes away! I also have some cheap glass bowls that fit the wool and dye perfectly.
I'm also being very organized and keeping a journal.
It is great fun :-)

[Pandagirl]

It sounds like you have a really good handle on the dyeing already. :-)