Jan 13, 2014
Dyeing With Spices
I have a new project in mind that requires wool yarn. I have a bag of wool yarn that I purchased from Goodwill for 3.99. Unfortunately it's all white. I thought I'd try using spices to dye it. I've used commercial dyes, Kood-Aid dyes, natural dyes, so this is new for me.
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First I tried chili powder which was supposed to give me a brick red color.
Here's the yarn, pre-dye.
I used 1/4 cup chili powder for each 4 cups of water. So that was 2 cups total.
I put the powder in cloth bags and boiled it for an hour and a half.
I added a cup of vinegar for every four cups of dye bath.
This is the color of the dye.
I simmered the yarn in the dye bath for an hour and the color just didn't take. Either this isn't wool or the chili powder is too old? It's been sitting in my pantry for at least 6 years. :)
So I decided to try dyeing with turmeric instead.
Here's the comparison of the colors-
The top photo is the one with the chili powder. The color is a tan/very light brown. The bottom one is the turmeric. Too much color??? I love yellow-good thing.
Paprika is good for dyeing, also. I buy my spices in bulk from the local buying club and they're very reasonable.
*
Now I'll do a sample swatch and see if this yarn will felt.
If anyone tries dyeing this way, maybe you could share some photos of the end results.
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Jan 13, 2014
Dyeing With Spices
I have a new project in mind that requires wool yarn. I have a bag of wool yarn that I purchased from Goodwill for 3.99. Unfortunately it's all white. I thought I'd try using spices to dye it. I've used commercial dyes, Kood-Aid dyes, natural dyes, so this is new for me.
*
First I tried chili powder which was supposed to give me a brick red color.
Here's the yarn, pre-dye.
I used 1/4 cup chili powder for each 4 cups of water. So that was 2 cups total.
I put the powder in cloth bags and boiled it for an hour and a half.
I added a cup of vinegar for every four cups of dye bath.
This is the color of the dye.
I simmered the yarn in the dye bath for an hour and the color just didn't take. Either this isn't wool or the chili powder is too old? It's been sitting in my pantry for at least 6 years. :)
So I decided to try dyeing with turmeric instead.
Here's the comparison of the colors-
The top photo is the one with the chili powder. The color is a tan/very light brown. The bottom one is the turmeric. Too much color??? I love yellow-good thing.
Paprika is good for dyeing, also. I buy my spices in bulk from the local buying club and they're very reasonable.
*
Now I'll do a sample swatch and see if this yarn will felt.
If anyone tries dyeing this way, maybe you could share some photos of the end results.
4 comments:
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Mama Pea said...
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Wow, I really like the yarn from the turmeric dye job! Very interesting. Although this is another thing (besides soap making) I'm not into, I'd love to see your further attemps.
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January 13, 2014 at 6:09 PM
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odiie said...
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Mama Pea,
I think I'll have to add a more subtle colored yarn to off set some of the brilliance. :) I'm wondering just how paprika will turn out? Let ya know. -
January 14, 2014 at 10:46 AM
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Thistle Cove Farm said...
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The turmeric yarn is lovely, although a trifle bold. I've never used spices to dye, most everything else, but not spices.
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January 15, 2014 at 8:27 AM
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Jess said...
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Try boiling the turmeric one in an alkaline solution ( baking soda and water quite concentrated) and it turns brick red
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November 13, 2021 at 10:54 AM
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4 comments:
Wow, I really like the yarn from the turmeric dye job! Very interesting. Although this is another thing (besides soap making) I'm not into, I'd love to see your further attemps.
Mama Pea,
I think I'll have to add a more subtle colored yarn to off set some of the brilliance. :) I'm wondering just how paprika will turn out? Let ya know.
The turmeric yarn is lovely, although a trifle bold. I've never used spices to dye, most everything else, but not spices.
Try boiling the turmeric one in an alkaline solution ( baking soda and water quite concentrated) and it turns brick red
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