Immersion dyeing
In this tutorial, I use acid dyes to explore dyeing wool roving at home.
Acid dyes achieve vibrant, multi-colored effects.
I’ll guide you through each step, from preparing the wool and mixing the dyes to applying the color and setting it, ensuring you have all the information you need to start dyeing confidently.
So, grab your wool roving (I’m using Blue Face Leicester for its lovely sheen and dye uptake) and your acid dyes, and let’s get started!
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Materials and tools needed
Before diving into the process, let’s discuss what you’ll need to start.
For this adventure, I’ve chosen Blue-Faced Leicester wool. It’s a fantastic choice due to its beautiful sheen and how well it takes up dye, making it perfect for beginners and seasoned dyers.
Next, you need some acid dyes. I like Jacquard. These dyes are my go-to because they offer various colors and create vibrant colorways.
Now, onto the dyeing tools.
For the dyeing process, you will need a pot, preferably stainless steel. A stirring spoon will also be helpful.
Safety is key in any project, and dyeing wool is no exception. I strongly recommend wearing protective gloves throughout the process to keep your hands dye-free and safe from irritation.
Remember to wear a dust mask! Working with dye powders can be messy, and we want to avoid inhaling particles. This simple step will keep our crafting experience enjoyable and safe.
With these materials and tools ready, we’re all set.
- Wool roving
Blue Face Leicester (source: The Woolery) - Acid dyes
Jacquard dyes (source: The Woolery) - White vinegar
- Stainless Steel Pots
- Stainless Steel Spoons
- Gloves
- Dust mask
We will be using a ratio of 1 teaspoon of acid dye powder to 4 ounces of wool fiber.
Dyeing Equipment and Materials
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Long Handled Stainless Steel Spoon
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Preparing the wool roving
Now that we have all our materials and tools ready, let’s prepare the wool roving for dyeing.
The first step is to ensure your wool is ready to absorb the dye, which means we need to soak it.
Start by filling a pot or bowl with warm water (enough to cover the wool) and adding a quarter cup of white vinegar. The vinegar acts as a binder, helping the dye bond with the wool fibers, ensuring vibrant and long-lasting colors.
Gently open up your wool roving and submerge it in the vinegar-water solution. Ensure the wool is thoroughly soaked, and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
This soaking process is crucial as it opens up the fibers, making them more receptive to the dye. Remember, patience is key here; giving your wool enough time to soak will significantly affect how evenly the dye is absorbed. Wool fiber has the ability to repel water, one of its great features. This means a good long soak is required to ensure absorption.
Once your wool has soaked, gently squeeze out the excess water. You want the wool to be damp but not dripping wet.
With our wool roving prepped and our materials at the ready, we’re all set to move on to the exciting part – dyeing!
Choosing dye colors
Selecting your colors is the most fun part of the process, offering endless creative possibilities.
Whether you’re drawn to serene blues, vibrant reds, or earthy greens, Jacquard acid dyes come in a spectrum of colors that can be mixed and matched to achieve your desired hues.
When mixing your dyes, decide the colors you want for your project.
At this point, it’s helpful to consider a color wheel to determine whether colors will play well together. If you use contrasting colors like purple and yellow or red and green anywhere these colors mix on the surface of your fiber, you will end up with a brownish hue.
If this is your first dye attempt, try using colors in the same temperature range. For example, reds, oranges, and yellows are all warm colors. Blues, purples, and greens are cool colors. When either of these groups mixes, the results are various hues in the same color families.
If you’re aiming for a specific shade or intensity, remember that the amount of dye powder you use will directly affect the outcome. Increase the amount of dye powder for deeper, more saturated colors.
Conversely, reduce the dye quantity for lighter, more pastel tones. It’s all about experimentation and finding the right balance for your vision.
However, if you choose a dye powder formulated to produce a pastel, the results will stay pastel, regardless of how much more dye powder you add.
Setting up your dye pot
Place your dye pot on a stove burner. Add dye to the pot while it’s on the stove so that you don’t have to move it once the dye powders are added. This way, the water doesn’t slosh around and create dye mixing.
Amount of dye to use
A general guideline is to start with about a teaspoon of dye powder for medium intensity, but feel free to adjust it based on your color preferences.
If you use multiple colors in one dye bath, ensure that the total quantity of all dyes is one teaspoon. You can add less if you want patches of the original wool color to show through, and you can add more if you want a deep color.
Don’t exceed two teaspoons of dye per four ounces of wool. This amount of dye is typically more than the fiber can absorb, and it will become waste at the end of the dyeing project.
Always wear a dust mask to avoid inhaling dye powders, and consider wearing gloves to prevent staining your hands. Dye powders can be easily airborne, and it’s essential to protect your respiratory health while working with them.
Adding dye
Wearing your gloves and mask, gently sprinkle your chosen dye powders over the surface of the wetted fiber in the pot. There is no need to stir the pot as this will simply mix all the colors and create one solid color. Rather, allow the heating process to do the mixing for you. If the powder seems like it’s not dissolving into the water you can gently stir that specific spot with a small spoon.
Setting the dye
The setting process ensures the colors are fixed into the fibers, maintaining their vibrancy and longevity through use and washes.
Stove top heating
Once your dyes have been added, they need to be heat set.
With the pot on a stove burner, turn the heat to medium. You want to heat the water so that it gets hot and begins to steam. Do NOT boil the water. This will damage the wool and effectively melt the fibers. Wool responds well to heat under 180°F.
Once you see steam rising off the surface of the dye bath, you will start your timer. Maintain this temperature for 30 minutes. Check regularly to ensure that the pot doesn’t boil. Lower or raise the temperature as needed to maintain the heat for 30 minutes.
The goal is gently heating the wool to activate and set the dye.
Once you’ve reached 30 minutes of heating, you can remove the pot from the stove. Allow it to cool until you can easily handle it without getting burned.
Once your wool roving has cooled down and the dye is set, it’s time to unveil your beautifully dyed creation.
Carefully lift the wool from the pot, gently rinse it under cool water to remove any excess dye, and hang it to air dry.
Refreshing the wool after dyeing
Wool tends to feet if handled too vigorously during the dyeing process. Similarly, avoid dramatic changes in water temperature.
Despite best efforts, sometimes the roving will be slightly matted after it’s dried.
Refresh the fiber by working down the length of the roving gently pulling on either side to open up the fibers and fluff them up.
Video tutorial
Dyeing wool for an art yarn project
Additional resources
For those eager to dive deeper into wool dyeing and fiber arts, countless resources are available to fuel your passion.
Check out Textile Indie’s tutorials and videos for more in-depth guidance on various dyeing techniques and fiber arts projects.
