How to Make Overdyed Pearl Cotton

Create your own colors of pearl cotton floss by overdyeing.

Create custom colors for your embroidery work by overdyeing pearl cotton floss. Overdyeing is the process of dyeing a fiber that has already been dyed by the manufacturer. Mercerized pearl cotton floss takes color readily, according to dye expert Paula Burch, and overdyeing allows you to "antique" overly bright colors, create variegated floss, or just change an unattractive color you purchased on sale.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• All-purpose dye
• Small bowl
• Rubber gloves
• Stainless steel spoon
• Old towel
• Drying rack (optional)

Instructions

1. Remove the wrapper and untwist your hank of pearl cotton.

2. Pour enough water into a small bowl to cover the pearl cotton floss. According to Pioneer Primitives, the floss must be soaked before dyeing. Presoaking the pearl cotton will allow it to absorb the dye evenly.

3. Add water to a small stainless steel saucepan to a depth of about 2 inches. Heat to a temperature of 140 degrees F and add a small amount of all-purpose dye. According to Rit Dye, you should add one package of powdered dye or a half bottle of liquid dye to 3 gallons of water for every pound of dry fabric. For a 1/2-oz. skein of pearl cotton, add just a "smidge," about 1/32 tsp. of powdered dye or 3/4 tsp. of liquid dye.

4. Add your wet pearl cotton floss to the saucepan. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir constantly with a stainless steel spoon to encourage "level" dyeing, advises Rit. To create a variegated, or marbled, effect, do not stir, according to Pioneer Primitives.

5. Turn off the heat and let the water cool after 15 minutes. The water should be almost clear at this point, as the floss will have absorbed the color.

6. Remove the floss from the saucepan and rinse the pearl cotton in cool water. Lay it out on an old towel or hang from a rack to dry.

7. Rinse your saucepan with water and scrub it with chlorine bleach or powdered cleanser, advises Rit.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose the dye based on the color of the floss and the effect you wish to achieve. For instance, dyeing a pink floss with a blue dye would result in purple floss. According to Primitives by the Light of the Moon, applying a tan dye to any bright color results in a muted, "antiqued" tone.

• If the item you will embroider with your dyed floss is something that will be washed regularly, hand wash in cold water.

• You can also immerse the dyed floss in a fixative product, according to Burch.

• To remove excess dye, place the floss between two old cotton cloths and press with a hot iron, moving the floss around on the cloths until no dye is transferred to the cloths.

• Color may run if no fixative is applied and the item is machine washed.

• You may permanently stain your cookware if you do not clean it right away.

References

• All About Hand Dyeing: What Brands of Embroidery Floss Can Be Dyed?
• Rit Dye: Stovetop
• Pioneer Primitives: How to Dye Your Own Thread
• Rit Dye: FAQ
• Primitives By the Light of the Moon: How I Overdye Cotton Floss