Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Before dyeing your wool, you might want to
premordant
the fleece—that is, treat the fibers with
a solution that will prepare it to hold color longer and more vibrantly. Alum powder and cream of
tartar, iron in various forms, and copper sulfate are examples of mordants. You might also soak
the dyed fleece in vinegar or baking soda to add another layer of color enhancement and setting.
Baking soda will bring out blues; vinegar enhances reds.
The dyeing process carries a similar caution to washing: do not agitate. After your fleece is in the
water and dye bath, leave it alone. After the color has been sufficiently absorbed, remove the fleece
and carefully rinse it, starting with temperatures similar to the bath and slowly cooling it until you
have cool, clear water coming off of it.
Drying is equally precarious, as too much handling and squeezing can affect the shape of the wool
or even begin to felt it. It's easy to dry hanging loosely over a hanger or on a screen so the fibers
aren't disturbed. Just don't twist it or wring out the water as you might with a towel because that
harsh action will ruin it.
With that said, a dye bath can have many faces. You will want to find out what exact amounts of
water and dye will work for your specific project, and then get creative with the process!
Hands-Off Dyeing
If you are not worried about monitoring the wool to get a light shade, dyeing in the oven or in a slow
cooker is the way to go. With vinegar in the bottom, coils of roving layered with sprinkles of dye, and
then more vinegar and lots of water carefully poured in, your slow cooker will simmer for hours while
your fleece soaks in gorgeous colors. No need to watch or stir or worry about the kids getting into it.
Over the Garden Fence
You probably won't need a separate slow cooker if you are only using teas and natural dyes to color your
roving. However, if you are dyeing with synthetic or purchased dyes, you will want a slow cooker dedicated
to dyeing that isn't used for foods. The same would go for regular pots on the stove using the stovetop
methods. I use an old pot with a broken handle that I'll never cook with again.
Similarly, you can soak your roving in some water and vinegar, lay it in a casserole dish, cover with
dye dissolved in water, and then bake it at 350°F for about an hour. A quicker version is obtained
by putting the fleece in a microwave-safe dish with water and dye, then nuking it for five to six
minutes or so. Each of these methods will get you the full potential of the dye. By the end, the
water should be clear and the wool should have soaked up the entirety of the dye.
Stovetop or Vat Dyeing
If you would like more control of color or do not want to mess with ovens or buying a slow cooker
just for dyeing, you might enjoy vat dyeing or stovetop dyeing. Dyeing in a vat simply means
