Dyeing felt

Feltmaking and Dyeing

Feltmaking consists of felting and fulling. Felting is process of blending wool fibers using wet or dry methods. Fulling is the method of shrinking and hardening the wool by steaming, beating, rolling or needling.

Wool can be dyed using either unsweetened drink mixes or acid dyes. Non-washable wool and wool/mohair in natural colors are the best for dyeing. Do not use machine-washable wools because the fibers have been treated to not shrink so the wool will not felt. More processed wools will felt faster so it is recommended to combine both slow felting fibers with fast felting fibers to speed up the process. Natural wools are best for dyeing; bleach white wools do not felt properly.

Both methods of dyeing are similar, in the use of tools, preparation of wool, application of dyes and setting of the color. However, food dyes are non-toxic where acid dyes are toxic and the tools cannot be used again in the kitchen. For both make sure you wear gloves, the dyes will stain your hands. (Bruce, 2007).

Food Dyes:

Using mixes such as Kool-Aid or icing dyes will allow you to reuse kitchen utensils for cooking, since these dyes are non-toxic. Food dye will not only color the material but it will also stain your hands. Wearing plastic gloves will keep your hands dye-free.

Using Unsweetened Drink Mixes:

Wear rubber gloves to protect hands from dye. In a glass bowl, place 4 cups of room temperature water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Make sure there is enough room for the wool as well. Saturate the wool in the vinegar mixture allowing it to soak at least 15 minutes. While wool is soaking, prepare the Kool-Aid dye mixture.

Combine one Kool-Aid flavor and 2 cups of warm water in a plastic cup and mix well. Repeat until all dyes are mixed in separate containers. Return back to the soaking wool in the vinegar mixture. Squeeze excess liquid from the wool. Place the wool in a microwave safe dish, folding the fibers back and forth in an accordion fold. Pour one dye at a time, slowly over an area of the wool allowing the dye to saturate the area. Repeat this process until all the wool is dyed. Gently press the wool with a plastic spoon.

Place the wool (in the dish) in the microwave and heat on high for 15 minutes. Check to make sure all the dye has been absorbed. Kool-Aid dye should adhere to the wool, leaving only clear water. If by chance the color does not adhere to the wool, add another ½ cup of vinegar to the dye bath and microwave for another 15 minutes. Allow the wool to cool completely. Squeeze out excess liquid by wrapping it in a towel or placing it in the washing machine set on gentle spin cycle. Hang skein of yarn and allow to dry completely. (Bruce, 2007).

Using Icing Dyes: for natural wool, silk, soy or other protein fibers

Wear rubber gloves to protect hands from dye. Protect the surface with freezer paper or vinyl and lay down plastic wrap. Use glass bowl or dish and mix 3 parts water (room temperature) with 1 part white vinegar. Saturate the fibers in vinegar mixture and hold over bowl to drain. Lay fiber on plastic wrap and paint with icing dyes using gloved fingers or paint brushes. Leave space between fibers so dyes can bleed together. Fold the plastic wrapped bundle so it fits into a microwave. Cook on high for 4 minutes. Allow the fiber to cool to room temperature.

Wearing the rubber gloves, rinse the fibers in room-temperature water until the water runs clear. Hang the fiber to dry. Note: Do not rinse the fiber while it is still warm or the color will turn fushia. Also do not rinse in hot water or rub vigorously, the fibers will felt (Cypher, 2006).

Acid Dyes:

These dyes are toxic and you cannot re-use utensils for eating.
Wear rubber gloves to protect hands from dye. In a glass bowl, place 4 cups of room temperature water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Make sure there is enough room for the wool as well. Saturate the wool in the vinegar mixture allowing it to soak at least 15 minutes. Add water to an 8-quart stainless steel pot with a steamer rack, up to the steamer rack. While wool is soaking, prepare the acid dye mixture.

Combine 1/8 teaspoon of one dye with 2 cups warm water in a plastic cup and mix well. Repeat until all dyes are mixed. Return back to the soaking wool in the vinegar mixture. Squeeze excess liquid from the wool and place wool on steamer rack, wrapping it in a spiral. Pour one dye at a time, slowly over an area of the wool allowing the dye to saturate the area. Repeat this process until all the wool is dyed. Gently press the wool with a plastic spoon.

Turn the heat on low and place a lid on top. Allow the wool to steam for 30 minutes. Check the pot often to make sure it doesn’t run out of water. Add more water if needed. Most acid dyes will absorb into the wool. If not, steam the wool 15 minutes longer. Allow solution to cool completely and squeeze out excess liquid using an old towel or placing it in a washing machine on gentle spin. Hang the wool to air dry (Bruce, 2007).

Resources:

Bruce, Darlene. (2007). Fabulous and flirty felt. Glouster, Massachusetts: Quarry Books.

Cypher, Carol Huber. (2006). Hand felted jewelry and beads. Quarry Books: Interweave Press.

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