How to Make Food Dye to Color Wool Fabric
- 1). Make a food-coloring dye by mixing several drops of food coloring with two cups of hot water in a bucket. Stir the dye thoroughly. Continue adding drops of food coloring until you have achieved the shade you want.
- 2). Wash the wool yarn before dying. Roll yarn into loose bundles. Tie the bundles loosely at the middle to prevent the yarn from tangling. Use a mild detergent soap like Dawn when cleaning yarn or delicate items. Soak the yarn in a bucket of water. Only a couple drops of soap are needed. Rinse and wring out excess water.
- 3). Soak the bundles of wool yarn in a stockpot of lukewarm vinegar water for at least two hours. Make the vinegar water by stirring in approximately one cup of white vinegar per gallon of water. This prepares the yarn to accept the dye better and more evenly.
- 4). Add the dye mixture to the stockpot with the vinegar water and wool yarn. Stir the entire mixture thoroughly to mix the dye in evenly.
- 5). Heat the mixture on the stove to boiling. Once the mixture is boiling, reduce the heat and simmer the yarn until the water appears clear. This means the yarn has absorbed all of the dye.
- 6). Allow the mixture to cool completely before handling the yarn. Using gloves, remove the yarn carefully over the sink or bathtub. Use paper toweling to blot all of the excess water from the yarn. Once the yarn is no longer dripping wet, it can be unbundled and hung loosely to dry.
