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Lanaset Dyes, Starter Set & Accessory Chemicals
RAINBOW DYEING WITH LANASET DYES

Rainbow dyeing, tie-dyeing, sprinkle dyeing, casserole dyeing; all names for the same process of getting many different colors onto one set of fiber. The recipe below uses Lanaset Dyes, and will work on unspun fiber, yarn (on skeins or wound into warps), or cloth (in lengths or made into clothing). All that matters is that the fiber content be animal based - silk, wool, alpaca, camel, angora.

VINEGAR SOAK
Soak fiber to be dyed in a vinegar water bath with a pH of 4.5 to 5.0. It will take about a tablespoon of vinegar per quart of water, but since the acidity of water varies, check with pH paper and adjust if necessary.

DYE LIQUOR
For a medium shade, mix ¼ teaspoon of dye in ½ cup of water. Use more dye for darker shades, less for lighter. Mix as many colors as you want.

DYEING
Remove fiber from vinegar soak and gently squeeze out excess water. Lay it in a non-reactive baking pan (enamel-ware, glass or stainless steel are good - aluminum, copper or steel are not). Arrange the fiber as you like; fold, tie, twist, spiral and/or zig-zag - whatever pleases. Apply the dye with a squeeze bottle, a syringe or just by pouring it on the area you choose. Remove excess from the pan with a syringe.

HEATING
Carefully place pan in a cold oven. Slowly heat to 190°, and hold there for 60 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave pan inside to cool slowly.

RINSE
Rinse out excess dye, and wash with a mild soap. Rinse again well, and hang to dry.