~ Sock Dreams ~

I’ve shown you the basics of dyeing socks and how easy it is. All you need is a box of dye and some hot water. But what about styles that aren’t cotton blends? What about non RIT dye options?  Well just you wait. Nothing dyes quite as wonderfully as nylon.

You can use RIT on nylon easy. Use our search to find a white nylon style, I’ve even queued up the search terms just for you!  If you’re using RIT, it’s okay if it’s a fiber blend, since this dye is made to work on cotton and nylon blends. Just follow the directions on the package, or the DIY we shared with you earlier this year.  So plain ol’ black and white Ribbed Pinstripe Leggings plus some RIT in Sunshine Orange can become these Halloween-tastic orange and black leggings! The dye won’t make any difference to the black stripes, so I’m free to choose what colours I want.

What’s wonderful about dyeing socks and tights is that when you can’t find the exact colour you want for something, you can make it!

Now, there is a fiber-specific way you can dye nylon, and there’s even an option at your grocery store! Join me after the jump for more nylon transformation!

Nylon, like silk and wool, is best dyed with acid dyes. Don’t worry! They’re not super-villain acidic (though you should probably wear gloves any time you dye things). Acid dyes work best with “protein” fibers like nylon.  A great resource for acid dyes and dyeing in general is Dharma Trading company.  But if you’re just curious about trying out dyeing nylon, then just pop over to your local grocery store and pick up a couple packs of Kool-Aid.

Yep. Kool-Aid.

Kool-Aid dyeing nylon

Kool-Aid is very acidic and works great as a dye on wool and nylon. You might even remember dyeing your hair with it in middle school (or, at least, I do).  It doesn’t take much effort to dye something with Kool-Aid.  And though I’m going to show you the stovetop method, there’s a way to do it in the microwave too. Here’s what you’ll need to do it on the stove:

• What you’re dyeing—which sharp eyes will notice that’s what is pictured is not what I actually end up dyeing •
• A stainless steel or enamel pot or saucepan •
• Packs of unsweetened Kool-Aid in the colours you want •

Put enough water in your pot to cover what you’re dyeing. In this case, I’m dying the some Sheer Lace Top Stockings with Backseams, which don’t need much to cover them.  Add packets of Kool-Aid to your pot. There’s no math involved, just more packets mean more colour!  Stir to dissolve.

Now add what you are dyeing and put the pot on the stove! Heat it to almost boiling and then turn the heat off. Let it sit, covered, for about half an hour.

You’ll know that you’re done dyeing when the water is clear.  All the colour is now in what you’re dyeing!  Wait until it is cooled and rinse well with warm water.

And ta-da! The camera cannot convey how bright these truly are. You can also see that maybe I should have used a bigger pot, so the stockings weren’t so cramped. Giving them a stir or two would help too. These will be going back in the pot to even out the tone.

If you want to use your microwave, just dissolve your Kool-Aid into water in a microwave-safe container. Pop what you’re dyeing in and microwave for two minutes. Let it cool for a few minutes then microwave for another two minutes. And done! Just like with the stove top, you’ll know you’re done when the water is clear.

Now, are you ready for fancy acid dyes?

Acid dyeing nylon

Using acid dye is a little trickier than using RIT or Kool-Aid. The dye I’m using came from Dharma Trading Company, a great resource for dyeing.  This is what you’ll need:

• What you’re dyeing, in this case the Paris Fleur De Lis Pantyhose •
• A stainless steel or enamel pot or saucepan, one that is just for dyeing, not food •
• Acid dye •
• Something to stir with that won’t stain or won’t matter if you stain. Think non-reactive stuff like wood, stainless steel and plastic •
• Vinegar •

Fill a stainless steel pot with enough water to properly cover whatever you’re dying, then turn on the stove top and add your dye.

You want about 2-4% of dye to the weight of the thing you’re dyeing. In my case that is not much. Use your eyeballs and common sense and if it turns out to light, remember you can always dye it again! As an example, to dye a pound of fabric you need 1/3 to 2/3 an ounce of dye. How much is a pound of fabric? Well, two pairs of Long Cuffable Scrunchables come to just under a pound, so that’s a lot! I found that the amount I added was more than enough and I probably could have gone with less.

Now, with everything properly stirred, add the thing that you are dyeing! Make sure what it is nice and wet, so the dye will wick in better, though it starts taking colour SUPER fast!

Bring your pot to just under boiling (185-200°F). If you don’t have a cooking thermometer, then know that you don’t want it to get to a “roiling boil.” Keep your pot simmering, but don’t let it get more feisty than that. This page has a good visual reference to the difference between boiling and simmering.  Once it is simmering, add your vinegar! The proportions are about 1/4 cup vinegar to one pound of fabric. Try not to pour it directly on what you’re dyeing, use your stirrer to push it aside while you pour the vinegar in.

Keep your pot simmering, stirring regularly, for half an hour.  When that time is up turn off the heat and let everything cool before rinsing in warm water. You will see that the water in the pot is clear, because all that colour went into what you were dyeing!

Probably, these were everyone’s favourite dye transformation. So purple! And look how well they match the Tibetan Flower Crews in Fuchsia!

There is so much you can do once you get dyeing! And sometimes, you learn something interesting about fiber! These Fingerless Lace Gloves with Ruffles I dyed with Kool-Aid (the red) and acid dye (the purple). They say on the label that they’re 90% nylon, but only the lace on the cuff and the fingers took the dye! Which means the body of the gloves is probably polyester, which doesn’t take acid dye. The result is pretty though, so I wasn’t too pouty about it. We’ve made a note in the Fiber Content for these gloves and are currently seeking confirmation as to what exactly they’re made of.

For more dye fun, here’s a great tutorial on tie-dyeing nylon tights, though we do have those ready made in a great cotton blend and lots of colours!

For more reference on dyeing protein fibers like nylon and wool, these two articles on Knitty are great jumping-off points. They refer to wool blends mostly, but the same techniques work on nylon:

• Kool-Aid Dyeing at Knitty •
• Using Acid Dyes at Knitty •

If you take the plunge into a vat of colour, share your results with us on Facebook! We love seeing when folks get creative with their socks. Until then, may your experiments all be as beautiful as you are!

Posted on Friday, September 28th, 2012 at 11:00 am and filed under: DIY, Reference, Sock Journal.
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