How to Dye Wool With W. Cushing Dyes
W. Cushing & Company's Perfection Acid Dye is suitable for dyeing wool, mohair and nylon, but not materials like linen and rayon. The company has been making dyes since the 1800s, and offers nearly 100 shades of blues, reds, pinks, yellows, greens and more. Cushing offers a dye card on its website of its available colors, but suggests ordering a free color card to be sent by mail to ensure color correctness.
Cushing also offers a direct dye for use with synthetic materials and plant materials, like cotton.
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Things You'll Need
- W. Cushing Acid Dye
- Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Water
- Glass or porcelain dye pot
- Rubber gloves
Instructions
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1
Soak the material to be dyed in a very mild dish soap solution for a few minutes before dyeing.
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2
Fill the dye pot with enough water to cover the wool material. Add 1 cup of white vinegar for every pound of material to be dyed. If you have hard water, add a small amount of soap or water softener. Add the dye and stir the mixture thoroughly. The amount of dye to be used is based on the weight of the wool.
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3
Put the pot on a high heat and add the damp wool. Stir and bring the mixture to a boil.
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4
Reduce the heat and let simmer for 30 to 40 minutes. The water will become clear as the dye bonds with the wool.
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5
Remove the pot from heat once the water becomes completely clear. Let the pot stand until it reaches room temperature, then rinse the wool under cool water and allow it to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Removing the wool from the dye prematurely will cause uneven dyeing.
Test dye in a small portion of the material before using to ensure the color is correct.
Do not inhale the dye powder.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit knitting image by Aleksandr Popov from Fotolia.com
