Anyone know anything about making home made dyes for cloth and yarn?

Question

I've tried coffee and food coloring, but neither worked very well! I was trying to dye 100% cotton yarn. Anyone have any suggestions?

Whoops. Didn't mean to post twice, my computer froze up. Sorry!

Answer 1

http://www.ineedcoffee.com/03/dye/

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_fabrics_tips_hints/article/0,,HGTV_3393_1395178,00.html

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/naturaldyes.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lb_other/article/0,2025,DIY_13995_2274388,00.html

Answer 2

You'll need:

pot

wooden spoon

Lots of onion skins

purple grapes

blueberries

2 or 3 teabags

Cinnamon

cranberries

1.Bring to a boil about 2 cups of water in a medium pan. Add one of the above ingredients. If using berries mash them well.

2.Reduce heat and let simmer.

3.Stir and then add your clothe or yarn. Keep it in for as long as you like. The longer you leave it the darker and deeper the color will be. Rinse and hang up to dry.

Here are the colors you will get:

onion skins - yellow-brown
Grapes - pale blue
Blueberries-purple color
litea bags - tan or brown

Cinnamon- very pretty brown
Cranberries - rose

Answer 3

Cotton will not dye with the dyeing solutions offered so far. While tea, coffee, and food coloring (including powdered soft drink mix) work on animal/protien fibers, they do not work as well or at all on cellulose or plant fibers like cotton. You really do need commercial dyes for cotton. Try the Pro Chem website for cotton dyes, they have them available in small quantities, or use Ritt.

Answer 4

I read an interesting magazine article the other day that suggested sugar free koolaide.
Also, my library has a book on using different types of mushrooms to make dyes. You might check the textile section of your library and see if they have anything like that.

Answer 5

post above lies! kool aid, coffee, ect... will work. (how do you think all of the ancient societies dyed thier fabrics, they didnt have polyester!) The only thing is that you'r dyes may not be as bright or vibrant as they could be if you bought a dye, such as Rit dye.

Answer 6

kool-aid