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Across the Fence:  dying wool all day!  |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 26 2007 : 3:24:34 PM
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Im making a new rug and needed alot of yellow but in different shades for a big sunflower. I wanted it muted, shaded & kind of stripped in differnt areas with a light sunset orange color. Well, all day I have dyed ALOT of wool but the funny thing is what I used, Food coloring, it gave me the prettiest shades I ever imagined. I had nothing else on hand & didnt want to venture out so I thought I'd give it a try & I love it! The colore are perfect. Tomorrow I'll be at it again.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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Phils Ann
True Blue Farmgirl
1095 Posts
Ann
Parsonsburg
Maryland
USA
1095 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2007 : 4:51:42 PM
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That's amazing, Michele! I'd never have guessed food coloring would work! Bet you're having fun
Ann
There is a Redeemer. |
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Sweet Harvest Homestead
True Blue Farmgirl
279 Posts
Lindy
Stanfield
NC
USA
279 Posts |
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daffodil dreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
805 Posts
Jayne
Hamilton
Victoria
Australia
805 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2007 : 6:37:21 PM
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| I dye with food colouring too - it gives great colours and is so easy that my girls help me. I love it! |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2007 : 8:05:27 PM
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How fun..I am looking forward to doing some dying soon. A sunflower will be so pretty on your rug..be sure to post a picture!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Buttercup
True Blue Farmgirl
1433 Posts
Talitha
Vermont
USA
1433 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2007 : 04:51:22 AM
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How neat! And just in case you didnt know, I knew a lady that used kool aid to dye her wool and she had some of the prettest colors ever! Can't wait to see it when you finish!
Hugz!
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2007 : 05:00:13 AM
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hi, I saw an article in Spin-Off about a lady dying w/ cool-aid, thats where I saw the info on food coloring. I never used anything but natural plants before, this is a first for me. I love the way golden rod comes out & I've used daffodils, queen-annes lace, acorns, black walnuts & tons of other stuff but living in this small mobile home, sometimes it's a pain. For me the best part is going out to find the plants to dye with. I really do like the way this turned out but I have tons more to dye.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2007 : 8:57:47 PM
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Michele,
Sounds LOVELY! Are you dying yarn, rug wool or unspun wool? I have never tried using plant materials. I'd love to give it a try this summer. Have you had any experience overdying wool yardage using plant materials? I'm imagining soft muted colors that would be great for some of the things I do. Im curious, is this method pretty color fast? Any hints, recipes or other advice you can share with us? Thanks so much!
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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Txfarmgal
True Blue Farmgirl
585 Posts
AK
USA
585 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2007 : 9:12:51 PM
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Michelle, sounds like you had fun today! You can also use Kool-aid and that gives some pretty colors as well. Also at a ranch I do some website work for she has some rovings with yellows and oranges that you can take a look at on www.mcranch-tx.com. I can't wait to see a pictures of your rugs!
hugs
angi
Angi~wife, momma, 4H leader & Txfarmgal -Be Joyful Always 1 Thes. 5:18
http://www.etsy.com/your_shop.php MommaNMe Country store |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2007 : 05:32:19 AM
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thanks for the site, I love new ideas. Im dying yarn that I already spun and rovings and doing it 2 different ways. For different results I use cold water w/ vinegar & dye & leave it for a few hrs. it gives a muted light beautiful yellow. Another way is to just put the yarn in hot water & let it settle itself (I dont push it down)while thats going on I heat the dye bath (which will consists of about 8 to 10 oz. of wool) about 1 cup vinegar & enough water so the wool has room to move, then I add the food coloring in by drops & that depends on how dark or rich you want it. Sometimes I add 20 drops or 30 or more, sometimes I had 10, depends on what your looking for. If you add less you can always add more.Then you heat it to a slow simmer for about 30 to 45 min. or until fiber absorbs the dye. You'll know when most of the color is gone. Then let it cool, rinse wool in hot water usually only once or twice is all it takes to rinse, water will be clear. Squeeze excess water out GENTLY so it doesn't felt & dry it. I put mine on a screen to dry that hubby made for me so air circulates but before that I used pegs that I hung.Also you can dry it on a towel & lay it flat.
This recipie came from a spin-off issue from summer 2004, I never used food coloring before. Its great. You'll change a few things after playing w/ it & do what works for you. I have the most beautiful shades of yellows, muted yellows, dark, light & they are beautiful. Also McCormick gives recipes for different colors on the back of their box. Its easy & fun plus non-toxic & great to do w/ kids. Also I have MANY recipes for dying w/ natural plants, thats all I've ever done, more time consuming but SO MUCH FUN.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2007 : 04:43:01 AM
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I still use vinegar most times, I find the smell disapears ather quickly, so far I have no problem w/ it. Today Im going for a light sunset orange to ply w/ my yellow.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 12:11:23 AM
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Thanks so much ladies! I have avoided dying wool because of all the chemicals in the dyes. I've heard horror stories about fumes and reactions... Sometimes the process sounds too much like science for me! I've been told that all hookers eventually become dyers...so maybe this is a good way to ease into things. Any good links online where we can see examples using plant material? Thanks again!
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
Edited by - abbasgurl on Mar 30 2007 12:12:15 AM |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 04:56:27 AM
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Rhonda, thers tons of info out there. Here is a good one to start with www.pioneerthinking.com/naturaldyes.html
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
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Mikki
True Blue Farmgirl
1510 Posts
Mikki
Austin
Indiana
USA
1510 Posts |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 11:24:17 AM
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Grace, isn't it wonderful? It's such a 'natural high" for me. Keeps me grounded & so appreciative of all things natural.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 9:17:30 PM
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Thanks so much Michele! great site!
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2007 : 12:04:01 PM
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Hi ladies, I have never posted pictures on this site but if you will go to my blog site you will see the Mohair that I finished dyeing. The colors turned out darker on the camera but I think you get the idea. There are some lighter tones in this batch but I am not the best camera person. I so love what I do. I wish there was a way in which you could feel how wonderful this fiber is. Snow is also a sweetheart. He came to me from an auction that the guy who was bidding on his was going to make food out of him. I could not let that happen so ten years ago I purchased him for $20.00. His fleece has brought me great return but his friendship is priceless. Hope you like the look into my dye day. Thanks
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larkspurfunnyfarm |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2007 : 2:06:10 PM
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your fibers are beautiful Grace. I can't believe you got Snow for $20.00, bless you for keeping him alive.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2007 : 09:01:56 AM
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Thanks so much for the kind words. I really LOVE what I do. Today I have Angora Bunny Fur in the dye pot. I just can not wait because the feel of Bunny is to die for. I might even get around to doing some Bamboo. I just received my huge box of natural dyes yesturday and might even place some of them on my etsy site. I have not in the past sold natural dyed on line and am not sure if anyone would be interested. What do you think Ladies?
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larkspurfunnyfarm |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2007 : 09:30:37 AM
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OH, fantastic. Wow. You make this sound so pleasant...I wish I had time to take on another art. I think the idea of offering your naturally dyed fibers for sale would be a hit. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks about doing what you do, the time, where to get the material, and then stops daydreaming. You could help so many people enjoy it! I hope you do and have success! I have a loom I bought in a hopeful moment, but it only works dust.
We make a difference. |
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Phils Ann
True Blue Farmgirl
1095 Posts
Ann
Parsonsburg
Maryland
USA
1095 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2007 : 11:26:24 AM
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Grace, your fiber is awesome. Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures! Michele, you and Grace just amaze me, using natural dyes!
Ann
There is a Redeemer. |
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Across the Fence: dying wool all day! |
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dying wool all day!
