How to dye protein fibers with food dye (wool, angora, alpaca, silk etc.)

Dying your own fibers for spinning or felting can be tons of fun. It is an all day project so be patient. This is a friendly craft that you can do with children as well.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• fiber to be dyed
• vinger
• water
• crock pot
• bamboo skewers
• wilton's dyes
• old towel
• medium sized bowel
• glass measuring cup

1. 

   Protect your surface! Lay down some sort of water proof layer to keep potential fluids from staining your surface. You can also wear gloves if you want. I don't usually wear gloves as dye should not irritate your skin if you rinse it off quickly. Keep an old towel handy for spills.

2. 
   Alpaca roving soaking

   The night before dying---Fill your bowel about half full with room temp water. Poor in about a cup of vinegar. Let the water sit for about an hour or so before gently placing the fiber into the water. Press it down to aid absorption but do not agitate it. If you change temps quickly or agitate the fiber it could become felted. Let the fiber soak up at least two hours but preferably overnight.
   
   This is also a good time to fill up your crock pot about 5 inches deep with water. Then add about a cup of vinegar.

3. 
   as I am starting to stir-

   The next morning, Place about a quarter cup of water in the glass measuring cup and heat it till boiling in the microwave. Then take your skewer and scoop up some of your dye into the water. Use the skewer to stir the water till all the dye is absorbed.

4. 

   Add your fiber into your crock pot. Push it down with a clean skewer. Then pull it to the side and carefully add the pre-dyed water. DO NOT STIR!!!! There should be enough water in the pot to allow for the flow of dye though the water. Press down your fiber carefully with the skewer again.

5. 
   See how clear the water is...

   Next, "cook" your fiber on low for about an hour. Then, turn it up to high and continue to cook till the dye is exhausted. This takes different times depending on the color you want. You will know the dye is exhausted when the water is clear... or mostly clear. Shut off your pot and let the water cool to room temp.

6. Take the fiber out of the crock pot and rinse it in room temp water. Rinse Carefully till water runs clear. Do Not Agitate!!! once again this will cause felting of the fiber. Lay over a drying rack, a stack of thick towels, a blanket in the sun or somewhere similar to dry. Now you can use the fiber to spin or felt to your hearts content!

Tips & Warnings

• Check out my articles on spinning and felting
• Don't AGGITATE
• use different color combos to see what you will get
• Do not Agitate fiber!

[ChristineRenee]

on 3/16/2009 Thank you for including photos! I have done essentially the same thing but not in a crock pot. I'm going to try it your way next time.

[staysik]

on 12/19/2008 I've done this with Kool-aid but I've never heard of wilton's dyes. What works for cotton fibers?

[Nessa]

on 12/4/2008 Thanks so much for this information. I wanted to know if I should dye before making the project and now I know to dye before spinning. I'll check your other how-tos for spinning and felting info. You're a lifesaver!