So now I understand why I am sometimes disappointed in my dye pot results. Don't be stingy! I always thought the dye companies were inflating the amounts they say to use of their products just to sell more, but that's not the case. I primarily use ProChemical Acid Wash Fast Dyes and I'm starting to use about 1 tablespoon of dye to 4 oz of fiber. It seems like a lot but to get those deep intense colors, that's what I have to use.
Another thing I've started to do that I didn't used to is completely pick apart my fiber before throwing it into the dye pot. I used to think that it was a waste of time, but after finding countless white spots that never got dyed, I started to pre-pick my fiber. Think of it as maximizing the surface area exposed to the dye bath. The more surface area you expose, the better the depth of color you will get. Picking also gives you a chance to separate out any second cuts and VM (vegetable matter). Believe me, it’s much easier to pick it out from white fiber than it is after it's dyed.
Here are before and after pictures of 4 oz of white wool I dyed Shamrock Green.
Everyone has their own way of dyeing, just like everyone has their own favorite spinning wheel. Dyeing is a trial and error kind of activity. It’s important to remember that fiber is a renewable resource! If you don’t like how it comes out, you can always get more. I've been dyeing for over 15 years and I am still learning new techniques. I'm working on a few new color blends I hope to share in the coming months. Right now, though, I need to go check on how my yellow angora is coming!
