So I got a package in the mail, a shipment of brand new Jacquard iDye Colors! I think these are my favorite dyes because they are super simple & the colors are pretty intense. I like to dye with KoolAid too, but unfortunately (or fortunately) KoolAid doesn’t come in Brown or Black flavors.

 

And here is an oldie, but goodie tutorial on How to Dye Wool using iDye!

I dye with iDye…

 

 

Start by pre-soaking your wool in a warm bath of water with a splash of vinegar. Pre-soaking your wool helps the fibers open up & gets them ready to receive the dye. It also helps with getting a nice even overall dyed color.

 

 

 

While your wool is soaking, get your pot of hot water started on the stove. I have a specific pot that I use for dying so that I don’t make stew that will end up with a slightly purple color.

 

 

 

 

I wanted to dye my wool a nice blue color. Be sure to check out these iDyes cause they have so many yummy colors made for natural dyes. They are technically made to be thrown into you washing-machine, but I’ve found it’s super easy to use them on the stove top!

 

 

 

 

You will be adding some white vinegar to the pot of hot water. This is used as the dye’s MORDANT, which is to help set the dye in the fibers. I’m not quite sure of all the science-type stuff on it, but it has to do with attracting the dye molecules and affixing them to the individual wool fibers. You can use this method with cotton fibers, the only difference is that you will use Salt instead of vinegar as the Mordant!

 

 

Now add your dye to the pot. Since you are controlling the amount of dye for the wool, you can add as little or as much depending on how saturated you want the color to be. I wanted a medium (not too light, not too dark) so I added a little bit, then added more about 1/2 way through.

 

 

*Another thing that will help the saturation of color into the wool is how long you leave the wool into soak. I’ve put wool in for literally 2 minutes, in order to get a light pastel color. The longer you leave it in, more of the dye will be able to adhere to the fibers. *WARNING: This may cause minor bleeding of the color because the dye has not had time to completely set.

 

 

 

So add the dye, add the vinegar, then add your wool! Be sure to gently stir the wool through the time of dying. You don’t want to aggressively stir the wool cause it will start to felt (which I have done) but you want to be sure to move the fibers around. This will help with getting even color coverage.

 

 

 

 

 

Now let the wool sit & cook for about 1/2 hour.

 

 

 

All dyed! You will be able to see if the dye has been completely soaked up by looking at the left-over water. It should be fairly clear. If your water is still dark or opaque, then you either added too much dye & your fiber can’t take anymore, or you need to leave it in the water for longer.

 

 

All done & just hanging up to dry. Should be ready for me to use tomorrow. I have a home-made clothes line hanging outside my window with some twine & clothes pins. Not that pretty or strong, but just perfect to hang tufts of wool!!

I love dyeing wool because I get to control what colors I make, but also get surprised & inspired by anything that I wasn’t expecting!