How to Color a Feather

Color feathers using craft supplies.

If you enjoy using feathers in your craft projects, you can make the projects look more vibrant and distinctive by using brightly colored feathers instead of naturally-colored ones. Although you can buy colored feathers from a craft store, you may not be able to find the exact color you are looking for. One solution is to dye your own feathers using basic materials. This enables you to customize the feathers exactly as you need for your project.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• Fabric dye
• Table salt
• Towel

Instructions

1. Fill a saucepan with 1 quart of water, and heat the water over medium-high heat until it boils. Reduce the heat to medium-low so that it simmers.

2. Pour 1/2 cup of fabric dye designed for silk fabrics into the boiling water. Select any color of dye you prefer.

3. Add 1/4 cup of table salt into the dye bath. Salt help the fabric dye adhere more readily onto the feathers.

4. Stir the mixture for 2 minutes to combine them completely.

5. Submerge the feathers into the dye bath, and allow them to simmer in the dye for 10 minutes.

6. Rinse off the dyed feathers in clear water for 5 minutes, or until the water runs clear.

7. Lay the feathers in a single layer on top of a towel, and pat the feathers down with the towel.

8. Smooth the damp feathers out with your fingers, following the natural flow of the feathers. Let the feathers air dry for 2 hours.

9. Fluff out the dry, colored feathers with your fingers.

References

• CDHM: Learn To Dye Your Own Feathers