One Hundred Dollars a Month

Last week I shared my list of basic supplies and how I draw out patterns for my hooked rugs. This week I thought I’d share how I dye 100% wool fabric using Cushing’s Perfection Dyes. Next week I’ll show you how I hook my rugs.

When you are searching for wool fabric for your hooked rugs, you want to look for 100% wool. Sometimes I’ll get lucky and find 100% wool at the fabric store, but often times it’s either really expensive {even with a coupon} or not what I’m looking for texture or pattern wise. When I first started rug hooking I would buy wool and wool blend skirts from the thrift stores and take them apart before dying them. But my results were always a bit mixed and more often than not the colors didn’t turn out the way I had hoped they would. So I stopped buying “used” wool.

These days I prefer to buy wool from Rebecca Erb’s Wool Studio. She offers such an amazing assortment of colors and textures {the selection is always changing} that it has become my one shop for buying wool. The quality of her wool is amazing, and I have never once been disappointed with the wool I have purchased from her.

New customers can order a 30 swatch New Customer Mailer for $5.00. If you become an active customer by ordering 2 yards {or $42.00}, you will be added to her quarterly swatch mailing list.

Every once in a while I will place a big order from The Dorr Mill Store {their oatmeal wool is one of my favorites} but only when I know I’ll be ordering quite a few yards because the cost to ship a package from the East coast to the West coast add up quick. Buying from 1 supplier has really helped me save on shipping.

Once you have your wool fabric, you’ll want to cut it into 1/4 or 1/8 yard pieces. This will make it easier to cut into strips later {I’ll cover that next week}. When I dye wool I like to use an assortment of textures and colors. I find it makes the rugs a little more interesting if all the colors are not so matchy matchy.

Next, you’ll want to get your wool wet. Pre-soak your wool in warm water with a wetting agent such as Ivory liquid.

You will only need a couple of drops of soap. Then, allow your wool to soak for about 1 hour.

While you are waiting on your wool to soak. gather up your Cushing’s Perfection Dyes. You can find all sorts of dye recipes books online. Note: You do not want to breath the dyes in. It is recommend that you wear a dust mask or measure dyes outside so you do not breathe them in.

You’ll need Cushing’s dyes to dye your own wool. Rit dye {although I love it} is just not going to cut it because you want to be able to blend several different colors together so you are not working with primary colors. Cushing’s dyes cost around $2.85 each and it typically takes tiny amounts of several different colors to create the warm, primitive colors I love to use in my rugs. I use  Mini Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons to measure out my dyes instead of shelling out big bucks for the fancy dye spoons most rug hooking supply sites sell.

Next, fill an old enamelware or stainless steel pot about 3/4rd full of water and bring it to a boil. {You need to do this in a well ventilated area with a pot specifically used for dyeing wool. You DO NOT want to use one of your everyday pots for dying wool and then use it for cooking because you are using chemicals}.

When the water starts to boil, stir in your dye mix until it is all dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer.

After your wool has soaked for an hour our so, pull the plug and ring {most} of the water out of your fabric.

Slowly add the wool fabric to the dye pot. Stir the wool around in the dye bath for a minute or two until the color has started to absorb. Let the fabric simmer in the dye bath for 30- 60 minutes. {Some people let their wool soak overnight believing they’ll get a richer, deeper color. I don’t do this.}

After the wool has absorbed nearly most of the dye, turn off the heat and stir in about 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar to stop the dyeing process and set the color. {Make sure your windows open because this part will stink up the house} Let the wool sit in the vinegar water for an hour or so to cool.

Once the water has cooled, rinse your wool fabric under warm water. Ring dry and then toss the wool into the dryer with an old towel and a dryer sheet {to prevent static cling}. Tumble dry.

Easy peasy, right?

Okay, so that’s it for this week. Let me know if you have any questions.

Next week I will post a tutorial on how I hook my rugs.

~Mavis