Crafts in India »  Rugs »  Rug Color » 

Dye your Rug

When you are making a hooked rug yourself, it is more fun if you do everything on your own and this also includes dyeing the material. Dyeing wool for rug hooking is a fun and an interesting process and can be done at home. Dyeing rug hooking technique is quick and can be done with ease.

Let us look at a simple way to dye wool for rug hooking

Materials required

A pot to dye in

Wool

Acid reactive dyes

Spoons

Tongs

Forks

Paper Towels

Vinegar

Water

Rubber Gloves

 Method of Dyeing 

  • First soak the material you want to dye in lukewarm water for about an hour. This helps it to dye evenly.                  
  • For every pound of wool that you need to dye, use about 1.5 to 2 oz. of acid dye powder.
  • Make a strong dye solution by mixing the color you want in little water.
  • Now fill your pot with enough lukewarm water to soak all the material
  • Add to this the dye solution that you had prepared
  • Put your wool in this solution
  • Now add ¼ cup of vinegar
  • Put the pot on a stove and let it simmer. As the wool absorbs the dye, the solution will become clearer.
  • Stir the wool and turn it every now and then carefully so that there is even saturation.
  • Now transfer the wool into cooler water. Soak it a couple of times. This will remove all the excessive dye
  • Incase the dye continues to bleed. Put the wool back n the dye pot and simmer for sometime.

Color Chart

  • Orange = 3:1 (yellow: red)
  • Scarlet = 1:3 (yellow: red)
  • Magenta = 14:1 (red: blue)
  • Violet = 3:1 (red: blue)
  • Blue green = 1:7 (yellow: blue)
  • Mid Green = equal parts blue and yellow


 Some Tips

  • You can change the color of the dye quite easily. If you want a darker shade, use more dye. Simmering the wool in dye solution for a longer time will also affect the shade.
  • In case you want to make the same shade twice, note down the exact amount of dye and water used and the time you simmer the material
  • The concentrated dye solution that you make can be stored up to six months.

 Some Precautions to take 

  • Wear rubber gloves before you begin. It’s important to protect your skin.
  • Work in an area where children are not allowed or else it can become risky.
  • The utensils or pots that you are using to dye should not be used for cooking or eating.
  • Spread newspapers where you work so that it is easy to clean the area.
  • Vinegar can be used to prevent the dyes from running.


For Urgent Assistance : Email:query@craftsinindia.com

Arts In India

Textile In India

Handicrafts In India
Craft From States
Sculpture In India

Jewelry From India

Gift Ideas In India

Accessories In India

Others

Painting

Explore the colors and images of incredible India at this rare online gallery of Indian Paintings, consisting magnificent Madhubani paintings, mysterious Warli paintings, Patachitras, Tribal Paintings, Thangka Paintings and also contemporary Indian art paintings.