Solar Dyeing with Acid Dyes

Let's get started!

Pre-wash your items with Dharma Dyer’s Detergent, wool items should soak for at least an hour to make sure they are fully wetted out.

Select your dye colors, you can pre-dissolve them with hot water, or you can sprinkle them in. Pre-dissolving the dye will give you a more even look while sprinkling it in can give you fun speckles.

Add your item to the jar and then add in your dye. How much dye? For this method you measure that with your heart. (But remember acid dyes are strong so a little goes a long way, like nutmeg.)

Pro-tip: You can layer smaller items in the jar, say several scarves or sections of roving. Between each layer you can apply a different color of dye. Often called the parfait method.

Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of citric acid powder or ¼ cup of white vinegar. If you are layering color we suggest sprinkling it in a bit as you go with each color.

Pour in HOT tap water, until the jar is nearly full with just a ½ inch of head space. Screw on the lid, finger tight is fine, no need to make it impossible to open later.

Set your jars out where they will get full sun. Now you can head back inside to the AC and a cup of ice tea while the sun does the rest. Let the jars sit for 12-48 hours, depending on just how hot it is where you are. Since it is in the high 90s here in California, USA, we will let them sit out for a couple of hot afternoons.

After the jars have had a chance to batch, move them someplace they can cool down to room temperature. While they won’t be boiling hot, you don’t want to rinse out until things are cool, as sudden temperature changes can cause wool to felt or shrink more.

Hand rinse, then hand wash the items with cold water and some Dyer’s Detergent. Hang or lay flat to air dry depending on the item. Should go quick in this weather!

Enjoy your dyed items, yarn, rovings and more!