Dyeing Techniques & Color Absorption: Natural vs. Synthetic

How fiber type, mordant, and method shape your final result

Color gives yarn its soul – but not every dye is created equal.
Whether you're simmering onion skins, splashing on Kool-Aid, or going full pro with acid dyes: the technique, fiber, and mordant all determine your result.

🌿 1. Natural Dyeing – Gentle color from plants

Natural dyes come from kitchen scraps, leaves, flowers, roots – and offer earthy, harmonious tones.

Popular natural dyestuffs:

• Onion skins (golden to rust)

• Avocado pits (rosé to salmon)

• Walnut hulls (dark brown)

• Elderberries (purple/gray)

• Turmeric (bright yellow – but light-sensitive)

Basic process:

1. Mordant the yarn (e.g. with alum & cream of tartar)

2. Prepare dye bath (simmer plants 30–60 min)

3. Add pre-wet yarn and heat gently (max. 70 °C)

4. Let cool, rinse cold, and dry flat

💡 Natural dyes create subtle shades that vary with time and water pH – it's always a little magic.

🧪 2. Acid Dyeing – Bold, professional, precise

Acid dyes are synthetic powders designed for animal fibers like wool, alpaca, or silk.
They require heat, water, and mild acid (citric acid or vinegar).

Basic process:

1. Soak yarn

2. Dissolve dye in warm water with acid

3. Add yarn and gently heat (do not boil)

4. Allow dye to exhaust

5. Rinse and dry

Advantages:

✔ Vibrant, even colors
✔ Reproducible results
✔ Perfect for speckles, gradients, solids

⚠ Use gloves and ventilate well – these are chemical dyes.

🍭 3. Kool-Aid Dyeing – Easy, bright, and kid-friendly

Kool-Aid contains food coloring and citric acid – making it ideal for safe, simple dyeing, especially with kids.

How to:

• Dissolve 1–2 packets in warm water

• Add wool yarn

• Heat in pot or microwave

• Cool, rinse, and enjoy the pop of color!

💡 Only works well on animal fibers – plant fibers don't hold Kool-Aid dye.

🌸 Fiber Type & Mordant – The game changers

It's not just the dye – the fiber itself and any pre-treatment (mordant) can totally change the outcome:

Fiber | Color effect | Notes

• Wool | Deep, vibrant | Takes all dye methods well
• Alpaca | Slightly muted | Softer sheen, needs longer fix
• Silk | Bright and shiny | Delicate – gentle heat only
• Cotton | Pale or uneven | Needs tannin or soy mordant
• Blends | Mixed results | Only the protein fiber will absorb dye

💡 Pro tip: Try the same dyebath on different yarns – the results are stunningly different!

🧪 Mordant Matters 

No matter which technique you use, mordanting preps your yarn to accept and retain the dye.

Common natural mordants:

• Alum (for plant dyes on wool)

• Cream of tartar (boosts shine)

• Soy milk (for cellulose fibers)

✨ Without mordant, colors may wash out or fade quickly.

🎨 My Takeaway

Whether you're boiling onion skins, using Kool-Aid for neons, or going pro with acid dyes – each method has its charm.

🌿 Natural dyes = quiet beauty
🧪 Acid dyes = bright precision
🍭 Kool-Aid = colorful fun

And in the end? It's your yarn, your color story.

👋 Have you tried dyeing yarn before?
Share your results in the Facebook Group or tag me on Instagram – I'd love to see your color magic! 

#naturaldyeing #koolaiddye #aciddyeyarn #dyeyarnathome #strickenimtrend

Just do it!

Yours,
Kathrin ☀️🧶