Eventually most of us want to create our own palette. Fortunately, acid dyes for protein fibers are easy and safe to use.  Powdered dye can be mixed ahead and stored for several months without losing potency.  A little acid, either vinegar or acetic acid, fixes the dye to the fiber. Jacquard has a complete range of colors, but you can easily create your own rainbow. With a generous supply Fire Red, Brilliant Blue,  Sun Yellow and Jet Black you can create almost any color that you can imagine. If you have wanted to experiment but have been shy about taking the plunge, I'm here to hold your hand and throw  life preservers as needed.

salmon

vermillion

fire red

crimson

russet

burnt orange

deep orange

aztec gold

sun yellow

gold ochre

bright yellow

emerald

chartreuse

teal

spruce blue

sky blue

sapphire blue

brilliant blue

royal blue

gun metal blue

navy blue

purple

violet

periwinkle

lilac

pink

turquoise

hot fuschia

cherry

brown

chestnut

jet black

ecru

Dye comes in 1/2 oz pkgs. I package dye in zip lock plastic envelopes..keeping the cost of packaging down. The volume of each color can vary as some dyes are light and fluffy and other heavier and denser. Each 1/2 oz pkg will dye 3-4 lbs of fiber to a full intensity.  I use 1 tsp. dye to dye one lb of wool.  Silk and mohiar take a little more for really intense color.  For pastels, I use as little as 1/4 tsp of dye.

To use, add the measured dye to 1 cup of water and mix throughly. Add the dye liquid to the dye bath, add the fiber and heat to almost simmering. Turnm off the heat and allow the fiber to cool in the dye bath.  Some colors strike very quickly, others need to set overnight to bond to the fiber.

Acd dyes are very flexible.  you can feel free to mix, add colors in layers.  If you like precise measuring and an organized approach Color in Spinning by Deb Menz is a thorough approach.  If you are free wheeling in your approach to life I recommend Twisted Sister's Sock Book for a liberating way to dye.

1/2 oz dye packets....$ 2.25 each

8 or more packets......$2.00 each

dye collections 8 coordinated colors......$16.00 each

citric acid crystals/ 8 oz. container...............$6.50

Standard rainbow: like your first box of crayons

fire red, deep orange, sun yellow ,emerald, royal blue,

purple, brown, black

Collections: 8 1/2 oz packet of each color to create your own rainbow

Earth Rainbow: muted earth rich hues

vermillion, burnt orange, gold ochre, teal, spruce,

gun metal blue, burgundy, chestnut

burgundy

Wacko Rainbow: in your eye color

hot fuschia, pumpkin, bright yellow, chartreuse, brilliant blue, turquoise, violet, black

pumpkin

Pastel Rainbow: in your eye color

pink, salmon, sun yellow, mint (1/2 strength emerald), sky blue, periwinkle, lilac, ecru

scarlet

I have always used vinegar when using acid dyes....it was cheap and I could get it at the grocery store. But boy, did those gallon jugs pile up!  So in the interest of saving the environment, I tried citric acid crystals and I am sold.  they are wasy to measure, easy to use, no salad dressing smell, and the colors take faster and are brighter.  Just dissolve the crystals in a little water and toss into the dye bath before adding the fiber.  8 oz will dye approx. 15 lbs of fiber.

In the interests of keeping packaging to a minimum and recycling I pack dyes in resealable plastic envelopes that are at least 60% post consumer recycled.  Jars used for Citric Acid Crystals are recylced (and very usable!) plastic jars left over from bulk dyes.

Left over dye in your dye bath can also be reycled. Some of the most unusual and loveliest (and non-repeatable) colors that have come out of my dye bath have been from left over dye.

Waste not want not, as my grandmother always told me.