Welcome back to Rebel Stitchers! In my latest video, I explore the beautiful world of pink and red acid dyes by swatching them onto Gulf Coast Native wool roving using the low immersion dyeing method. As part of the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em program, I’m committed to raising awareness for endangered sheep breeds, and what better way to showcase this than by experimenting with vibrant, rich colors on this rare wool?
The Colors I Swatched:
For this dye experiment, I used the following acid dyes:
Ashford Hot Pink
Jacquard Pink: https://amzn.to/3WTa9SG
Jacquard Hot Fuchsia: https://amzn.to/46yEfhD
Jacquard Cherry Red: https://amzn.to/46zX6ZP
Jacquard Vermillion: https://amzn.to/3TTDTwU
Dharma Maroon: https://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-acid-dyes.html
Ashford Scarlet:
Each of these dyes has its own unique properties, so I wanted to see how they behaved on Gulf Coast Native wool roving, a fiber that’s not only beautiful but also part of my effort to support endangered sheep breeds through the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em program.
Low Immersion Dyeing with Dry Dye Powder
In this experiment, I used dry dye powders and a low immersion method of dyeing, allowing the colors to interact with the fiber in a controlled way. Because working with dry powders can be hazardous, I wore my respirator, gloves, and safety glasses to avoid inhaling any particles or having them go into my eyes. Safety is crucial when dyeing fiber, and I always use specific tools, utensils, and pans that are reserved only for dyeing—not for food preparation.
Why I Swatched These Colors
Swatching is an essential step in understanding how each dye behaves on the wool, how well they exhaust, and what the final color looks like. This session helped me get familiar with the dyes and resulted in a gorgeous 25g tonal roving that can either be spun into handspun yarn as-is or blended with other colors for a custom look.
Observations and Experiment Notes:
While swatching, I noticed a few interesting things:
Jacquard Cherry Red and Ashford Scarlet had very similar tones and hues, making them almost indistinguishable when applied to the wool.
Dharma Maroon surprised me very much so! Initially, it turned green when I swatched it, which threw me off. After adding more heat, time, and acid, it transformed into a maroon but still retained a slight green undertone. I suspect this odd color shift might be due to the age of the dye powder since it was given to me. In a future experiment, I plan to compare this old dye with a new jar of Dharma Maroon to see if they behave differently on roving.
Why You Should Swatch Before Dyeing
Swatching allows me to test how dyes perform on specific fibers, making it easier to replicate colorways in future projects. When working with different dye brands like Ashford, Jacquard, and Dharma, you’ll often find subtle differences in behavior, color saturation, and exhaustion. This is why it’s so important to swatch first—especially when using endangered wool breeds like Gulf Coast Native wool.
Conclusion
This dye experiment was not only a fun exploration of pink and red acid dyes but also an important step in supporting the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em program. Working with Gulf Coast Native wool allows me to contribute to the preservation of this endangered breed while creating beautiful, vibrant colors. The tonal roving I produced will make a stunning handspun yarn or can be blended with other colors for unique projects.
Be sure to watch the full video to see how these dyes behaved on Gulf Coast Native wool, and stay tuned for future experiments, including my comparison of the old and new Dharma Maroon dyes. Don’t forget to subscribe to Rebel Stitchers for more fiber dyeing tutorials and tips on working with endangered sheep breeds!
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