Can You Use Meals Colouring To Dye Cloth?

I often like to make use of pure supplies for dyeing; I like the entire foraging course of and the subtlety of colors you get. However just lately I assumed I might have a go at dyeing with meals colouring to see if it was as efficient as utilizing plant dyes.

The benefit of utilizing meals colouring to dye cloth is that you should use the identical pots and pans you utilize for cooking, and its comparatively easy and low cost to supply. I did discover some VERY previous meals colouring in my sister-in-law’s cabinet (we’re speaking many years right here) however the ones I used are Wilton’s meals colouring gel. You will get them from craft and baking provide outlets and from Amazon (or strive your sister-in-law’s cabinet).

To dye cloth with meals colouring you have to:

• Ffood colors
• Clear vinegar (this stops the color washing out)
• Rubber gloves (except you need to appear like you’ve obtained a twenty a day behavior)
• Yarn or cloth
• Pots and pans
• A supply of warmth (the warmth is what fixes the color)

After I did this experiment it was near Christmas, so I made a decision to make use of seasonal colors and went with pink, yellow (gold) and inexperienced. You possibly can solely use this methodology for animal fibres like wool and silk (wool works greatest).  You will get extra detailed directions on this course of at Instructables (utilizing a microwave as the warmth supply) however that is the essential methodology I used and it labored for me.

Step-by-step information for easy methods to dye cloth with meals colouring:

Step 1: Soak the yarn or cloth for just a few hours in an answer of water and clear vinegar. A tough information is 1 / 4 cup (60ml) of vinegar for every 100g of yarn or cloth. However as I used to be dyeing very small quantities I simply added just a few good squirts to the water.
Step 2: Combine the dye in a cup of sizzling water. You solely want a small quantity. I used a cocktail persist with get the color out and to combine it. Ensure its absolutely dissolved.
Step 3: Add the dye to a pan of water. Add just a few extra squirts of clear vinegar and blend properly.
Step 4: Add the yarn or cloth to the pan ensuring it’s all submerged then warmth it slowly to simmering.
Step 5: Let it simmer for about 20 minutes or till it’s the color you need.
Step 6: Take away the wool or yarn from the dye and let it cool (be affected person, that is vital, particularly for wool).
Step 7: Rinse properly and also you’re carried out!

I dyed pre-felted wool inexperienced and wool and silk yarns pink and gold. As I anticipated, the wool took up the dye a lot better than the silk. I needed to go away the silk within the dye answer for lots longer and added extra color and vinegar to get the color I needed. After I’d completed, I made a Christmas card with the assistance of some small washers.

Area Dyeing With Meals Colouring

I believe the place dyeing with meals colouring actually comes into its personal is space-dyeing. It’s one thing you may’t actually do with pure dyes, or no less than it’s tougher.

You possibly can area dye materials in a microwave however I desire to do it in a vegetable steamer.

Step 1: Soak the yarn or cloth for just a few hours in an answer of water and clear vinegar.
Step 2: Squeeze out the liquid from the yarn.
Step 3: Lay the yarn onto a plastic sheet or comparable non porous floor.
Step 4: Apply the dye immediately onto the yarn utilizing a cocktail stick. You could bear in mind that among the colors will combine, so in case you put yellow subsequent to blue you’ll additionally get inexperienced.

Step 5: Pop it right into a steamer and steam for about 20 minutes. When you transfer it round a bit the colors usually tend to merge.
Step 6: Take away the wool or yarn from the dye and let it cool. It is a nice excuse to make use of extra meals colouring on a batch of cupcakes while you’re ready!
Step 7: Rinse properly and also you’re carried out!

The colors are very brilliant however could be calmed down by placing them with one thing extra impartial. You’ll discover, with observe, how the colors reply and the way a lot meals colouring you want for particular shades.

In Conclusion

Dyeing cloth with meals colouring is a comparatively simple course of and a easy solution to strive dyeing for novices. It’s notably helpful in case you solely need to apply dye to a part of a material, and since it makes use of acquainted family objects, it’s fairly value efficient as properly. Strive it, you may prefer it!

Associated Questions:

How lengthy does meals colouring final on garments?

Meals colouring will stay in your dyed garments for years, as the method of utilizing vinegar and warmth to lock the color will stop it from popping out within the wash. Nonetheless, as with every house dying processes, you may count on some discolouration over time and washing.

Will meals colouring dye all supplies?

Meals colouring works greatest on materials with protein fibres, like wool, silk and cashmere. Materials like cotton and linen are cellulose and these are affected by the acidic qualities of meals colouring. If you wish to do dye materials like cotton, you might be greatest to make use of fibre reactive dyes, like these present in dying kits at your native grocery store.