Wool requires moisture, agitation, and temperature change in order to felt. Wool can handle almost any temperature--including near-boiling temperature--if the change from one temperature to another is done gradually. It's *agitation* while wet, or a quick change in temperature (cold to hot or hot to cold) that you have to watch out for.

Thanks so much for this! I have had two beautiful New Zealand wool sweaters for years. Unfortunately one of them got oxidation stains, so after finding your instructions I ordered black dye months ago. Then I realized last week it could become my “eclipse sweater” because I live in a city that will be experiencing the total eclipse today. Thanks to a friend who had a huge pot, I dyed it yesterday …and it turned out so well! I have "eclipsed" my sweater and will wear it today when I participate with Mount Hope World Singers at a "Total Eclipse of the Park" event.

Beautiful dye job. Nice to have someone else take me through the procedure before I try it.

I have to say, you put a lot more care and concern into dying that sweater than I ever have with my (ever changing) hair! That's probably why the sweater looks so good!! I have "fashionably" multi-toned blue hair atm

@PootPootPearl

4 ай бұрын

Love it

Thank you so much for this video! I was having trouble finding concise, clear instructions online for dying wool, and your demonstration was just what I needed. I followed your process(along with specifications from the dye brand) and was able to successfully dye an old cream coat black. It worked perfectly! I'm so pleased!

Great video. I love it that you explained to us your nervousness through the dying process, and the particulars of avoiding uneven saturation and felting. This is exactly what I am worried about, but here you have encouraged me. I will be nervous like you, but I will be careful to follow the steps and use a pot that allows me to see. And then I will exercise your patience, letting it cool ever so slowly and then gently rinse rinse rinse...Thank you!

Wow it looks like a completely brand new sweater! Absolutely gorgeous

Can't believe my good fortune to come across this recommended video. The video and comments/ responses below answers my questions, the main one being would heating the wool shrink the sweater....if I understand the responses correctly slow temperature changes and limited agitation will minimize the risk of shirking the sweater. THANK YOU for this! A fun winter project during COVID lockdown.

That was very informative and well done. Love all the detail info that will help me in the future with questions I would have had. Your sweater looks great!

Thank you so much for sharing this journey. Your sweater came out just beautiful. I appreciate how you teach, you explain things in such a way that i feel confidant in trying things myself. Thank you for all your hard work you put into your videos.

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you liked the video. It was fun (and slightly nerve wracking!). I hope you feel confident enough to try this out, yourself!

It turned out beautifully! Thank you for sharing all of the ups and downs that might give me courage to try this as some point.

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

If you have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain, then it's worth trying!

You may have given me the confidence to dye a 100% wool sweater that was labeled as burgundy, but it's the rustiest burgundy I've ever seen. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing your adventure. This was very interesting. Your dyed sweater is beautiful. I don’t know if I would ever do that but I must say if I had a favorite sweater and dying it could save it, I might try it. Congratulations on your success. I so enjoy your podcasts. I learn a lot.

Thanks for such an informative video! I followed the same process and successfully dyed two cashmere sweaters. 🙂

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

Wonderful!

This is the best dye job I have seen!

Thank you so much for this video. I've been needing to set some dye in a sweater I've been knitting and I didn't know how to do it, now I feel a little more prepared.

Wow, so useful! Thank you! Your sweater turned out great 😍 I’ve been trying to get brave enough to dye one of my favorite wool sweaters (it’s tan and it has awful sweat stains)...I think this pushed me over the edge and I’m finally going to give it a go! Thanks again for your amazing and very informative video! Love your channel!

I was so nervous about whether it felted!! It came out beautifully though! :)

Thank you this is so helpful. It was well presented and the information you provided was at just the right level- I feel ready to go!

Thank you! I couldn’t pass up some cashmerino that was $60 for a sweater quantity in a really unfortunate beige colour. I knit it up hoping the colour would grow on me but no luck. Glad to know that dyeing a knit garment is not only possible, but fairly straightforward!

@LauryDepp

3 жыл бұрын

I have the same problem. Beige and cashmere have u dye it ? Yet ?

Sweater looks Awesome! Thank you for sharing the whole process. It was very interesting.

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

It was interesting to me, too! Sometimes in a scary way ;-)

Thanks! This was so helpful! From Brisbane Australia

I have been wondering how to overdye a pair of hand knit socks for some time. Your video is so detailed and informative; I know I'll reference it in the future. Your sweater looks really great.

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you! (I've been wearing it all day today. :-) ) Acid dyes work really well with nylon, too, so if your socks are a wool and nylon blend, that should work just fine. Good luck!

Thank you for all this information! I have been very hesitant to try dyeing anything knitted. Now I may try.

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

Excellent! It's a fun thing to try, especially when you have nothing to lose. :-)

Amazing success! Thanks for all the details !

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Wow. It looks gorgeous.

Thank you for posting this. Will save for future.

Thank you, I learn something new every video !

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

Lol, me, too!! :-)

So helpful! Thanks for putting it up.

That was very interesting. What a great way to extend the life of your sweaters (or change the color of one you dislike or have grown tired of). If I were you though, I’d get myself a white enameled pot for next time; so, you will be able to see what is going on better and won’t have to worry so much. 😅

Beautifully done wrap

Really enjoyed this!!!

Hi Roxanne, this video came up on my "Recommended" list. I really enjoyed watching your journey with overdyeing sweaters. I love the result you got on the navy - so much great information. Now I'll be looking through my sweater stash to see if there's anything I want to overdye ;-) Thank you for this podcast! Diane

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

I'm guessing you'd do a smash up job of overdyeing! :-)

@singingwolfdyeworks2391

6 жыл бұрын

I've only ever overdyed socks so a sweater would be a new experience :-) You've inspired me!

Hugely helpful. Thanks.

Great job!

Thanks for all the tips

Bedankt om dat soort informatie te delen. Nooit gedacht dat je een wollen trui kon kleuren

Very helpful video. Thanks.

thank you! I learned a lot!

Ohhh, your result is so much better than mine. I've just tried to do something similar with socks -- one pair in a light colour that I had deliberately intended to try over-dyeing (in order to get dark socks without using eye strain inducing dark yarn) and one well worn pair that had never stopped bleeding its own dye. I wanted very dark blue and -- with corona virus limitations -- used what I had on hand. That turned out to be some partially used Dylon packets in Navy and Black that had worked previously, and very well, to restore some colour to fading denim. But my stove top attempt did not work at all ... blotchy colours that kept changing when exposed to air or to the rinse water. The end result? Two _smaller_ pairs of blotchy olive brown socks with a few splodges of rusty, brick red. Disappointed to say the least. But somehow cheered that the principle at least can work ... based your experience, with another brand and type of dye, that did work well. Btw, I also made the mistake of using a dark pot. :-)

Wow!!! That was so worthwhile and very interesting 💐

nice job on the sweater

very nicely done :)

Your “new Navy Blue” sweater is so gorgeous! My friend used to dye everything in a Home Depot bucket she kept in her back porch. Black was a central color in her wardrobe, and as soon as garments started to fade, she started to dye. She put things in the bucket and left them overnight, then rinsed with the hose on the lawn (!). Of course, all her blacks eventually matched. I wonder if the lazy bucket method would work for sweaters? The method you used seemed long and complicated. But the result? Fantastic!

Don't make me have to turn you to mittens. :) haha Enjoyable podcast!

I was looking for how to dye a wool sweater. I bought a pretty white one and want to dye it red

Me too. I usually never knit anything in a very dark colour, but I am challenging myself on this and am knitting a pair of gloves to a really good friend 😬😌

nice; thank you

Hi Roxanne, Thank you for sharing this wonderful video! I have an old bright red mohair hand-knitted sweater given by my mom. I really like the sweater but not the color. Can I use your method to dye it to other color, like purple? Is it safe to dye a mohair sweater? Should I use blue dye to accomplish the task? Thank you very much!

💙

Such a great video! You can tell you’re a pro and the sweater is beautiful! Which brand did you use for this? Possibly the color too if you remember it’s very pretty and I think it could be a nice choice for my sweater that needs dying. Thanks in advance!

@RoxanneRichardson

4 жыл бұрын

It's all listed in the video description.

Your sweater turned out so beautifully! How do you remove the water from the wash to add the sweater to the rinse water and again after the rinse? Is it the same as when you wet block a garment? Thank you!

Thank you Roxanne for this very clear and precise video! I would like to do the same thing with a 100% cashmere sweater. Is this technique also suitable for cashmere? Thank you again, from France

@RoxanneRichardson

9 ай бұрын

Cashmere is a protein fiber, like wool, so I imagine it would work. I haven't tried it, myself, so no guarantees!

You are v clever to have achieved this without matting it. Cripes.

any tips about dying marino wool ? i know marino has special properties and i hope that it dyes with acid dye just like this. im dying black over navy blue. great video bye the way

@RoxanneRichardson

4 жыл бұрын

All wools are protein fibers, so they all need acid dyes. The main issue with merino wool will be that if it is a non-superwash wool, you will have to be very careful to not agitate it in the dye bath, because it felts easily.

How much water and how much vinegar for a ladies gap xs sweater should i use?

Hi I'm wanting to dye a jacket brown but theres straps on the side that I dont want to dye how to I protect it ?

But if you dye natural wool with hot water doesn't the sweter shrink? And have u use it? Does it stain your skin ?

I slightly burned a nice light blue wool sweater this morning -- the light burn mark is clearly visible on the left shoulder sleeve. I was thinking about dying it to conceal the burn. Thoughts on this?

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

It'll either work, or it won't! :-)

Hi Roxanne, any advice for getting an even dye job on an aran sweater in a pastel color? I am dying 6 pre-made aran sweaters for a friend who wants an assortment of pastel sweaters... :/

@RoxanneRichardson

5 жыл бұрын

A large enough vessel to allow the dye to flow through, and enough dye to do the job.

Just found this! I'm knitting a "beige" plain, top-down, sweater in 100% Alpaca (gifted - no tags - local animal and spinner). Any ideas about how to dye this. I could do a swatch as I have lots of yarn and just give it a go but I'm wondering if, because Alpaca is different from yarn from sheep, it might not take it as well. I've felted Alpaca and it seems to be harder to felt so I'm not too worried about felting the sweater (maybe just a little).

@RoxanneRichardson

4 жыл бұрын

I am not a dyeing expert, but alpaca is an animal fiber (protein fiber) and therefore needs an acid dye, just as wool does. I don't know if the relative lack of scales in alpaca fiber makes it easier/quicker to dye or not. (Superwash wool, which has had the scales removed/minimized is quicker/easier to dye.) I'm sure there are many people on Ravelry in one of the dyeing groups who would be able to offer suggestions/tips. Good luck!

i’ve just been given an old mustard yellow woollen sweater, what colour do you recommend would turn out well?

@rudrika6214

2 жыл бұрын

I think olive would be good

What dye did you use? I just bought my husband a beautiful Aran sweater from the thrift store but it’s covered in stains so we want to try and dye it.

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

It's listed in the video description.

I have a bright red wool jacket. Do you think it would be possible to dye it a dark blue or military green? I’m afraid since the jacket isn’t faded and a bright red that it will be this ugly blue/red combination.

@RoxanneRichardson

5 жыл бұрын

I am not an expert in dyeing, but my suspicion is that if you overdye a red coat in its complementary color (green) you're going to get brown. If you dye it blue, you'll probably get purple.

@benjaminogle11

5 жыл бұрын

Roxanne Richardson thanks for the help. Do you think dyeing it twice would remedy the problem?

@RoxanneRichardson

5 жыл бұрын

I doubt you'll ever eliminate the influence of the underlying color. As I said, I am not a dyeing expert. You're going to have to do some research on how the original color affects the results of overdyeing wool.

@vancouverstreetopera3790

5 жыл бұрын

As an artist who paints and has dyed clothes, a red jacket with dark blue will be dark purple, you are not going to get green out of red, if you add green it will be brown

Hi Roxanne, I enjoyed your video and just would like to ask your opinion on my result on dying a wool jumper yesterday. I followed the protocol exactly however onced rinsed the olive jumper showed dark brown patches like burn marks if this is the cause how often and for how long do you stir for to stop any possible burning, also what are my options to salvage this jumper, would it be possible to re dye the jumper olive again or if not can I dye it black. Many thanks Marco.

@RoxanneRichardson

4 жыл бұрын

If you've burned the garment, then the fibers are damaged. I don't know that re-dyeing will help that. If the discoloration is due to the dye not being absorbed uniformly, that could be due to either not enough dye, or not enough room in the pot to allow the dye to move freely. If the sweater was truly burned, that might also be an indication that the sweater didn't have enough room in the pot. I'm not a dyeing expert, and I haven't seen the sweater in question, so I can't be sure.

@marcocastagnetti7086

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Roxanne, I used a 20 litre pot and it seemed to have around the same room as In your video, strangely the dyed water was still the same colour after an hour, the jumpers colour held and did not bleed. All I can think of is I didn't stir enough,and brown marks on a olive jumper looks like it indicates burning. Well I have nothing to loose since I have black I will dye again. But if it still doesn't come out properly I'll just give up as this has cost me ££.

@RoxanneRichardson

4 жыл бұрын

@@marcocastagnetti7086 Are you sure the sweater was wool, and that the dye you used was an acid dye? If the dye and fiber are incompatible, the fiber won't take on the dye.

@marcocastagnetti7086

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Roxanne, I have know dyed the jumper black it's a 100% wool and I am using jaquards acid dyes, i went for broke what ever happens happens, I stirred more often and to my surprise it seemed to be a success, just one issue I rinsed in cool water once bleeding stopped I rinsed in warm water and a little synthrapol, more bleeding then it stopped, the jumper had srunk a little (I took measurements) so I soaked in like warm water in baby shampoo for 90 min, when I came back the water was black, am I underestimateing how many times I have to rinse this jumper, I haven't noticed any colour loss in the jumper yet. Would I be right in saying that if the colour didn't take then it would be bleeding at a faster rate and completely wash out. Many thanks Marco.

Great tutorial! So...its the agitation that would shrink an Irish wool sweater and not the heat?

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

Hot water on its own doesn't cause fulling. Moisture, temperature change, and agitation combined cause fulling. Heat causes the wool scales to be more receptive to fulling, so if you can avoid agitation and rapid temperature change, you're fine with hot water.

@maryellencastle6217

3 жыл бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson Thank you! If I didn't need such a dark color could I use cold/cool water or would the dye not "set" in the wool?

Was your sweater 100% wool? Did you experience any shrinkage? I have a 100% wool sweater I am looking to dye but am SO worried about shrinkage from the heat.

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

In order for the wool to take the dye, the scales have to open up, which is what the heat is for. In order for it to shrink/felt, wool has to have moisture and agitation. It can felt at any temperature, but is most vulnerable when the scales are open, which is when the wool is hot. If you can prevent agitation when the water is hot, you will prevent fulling. If you shock hot wool with a quick temperature change, it will shrink. If wool is cold and wet, and you agitate it, it will felt (although much more slowly and with more effort than when it's hot).

Roxanne - thanks for this episode. What was the temperature of the water you used to wash your sweater and the water in the pot before you heated it?

@RoxanneRichardson

10 ай бұрын

I have no idea. What's important is that the temperature of the pot water is close to the temperature of the sink water so that you don't shock the wet wool with an extreme temperature difference, which could cause fulling/felting.

@aninehartog3950

10 ай бұрын

Thanks you Roxanne it is much appreciated

I watched your video researching how to dye a sweater I knit that was a color I didn’t like. My problem with the finished product was that the front has some streaks of color. I tried stirring frequently while in the dye bath, and the back and sleeves are perfect, but it is not acceptable as is. Now I’m wondering if I do it again, darker, while the streaks disappear🤔. I dyed it a “lighter”hot pink, and not sure it I can get the sweater to the color of the streaks, or if they will just get darker too. Anyone had any experience with this?

@RoxanneRichardson

4 ай бұрын

Yarn can only take in so much dye, so it's possible that with additional dye, the lighter areas will absorb more dye, while the darker areas will absorb less. No idea how far you'd have to go before everything ends up the same shade.

cool thanks

Will the wool sweater shrink when you cook it like this? I wish I could pay someone to do it for me

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

The video description explains why the wool doesn't felt in the hot water.

Would you be kind enough to tell me if this process is the same for dyeing a 100% cotton jumper?❤

@RoxanneRichardson

Жыл бұрын

Animal fibers, like wool, require an acid dye. Plant fibers like cotton require a different dyeing process.

Could you do a video on turning an Aran sweater into a cardigan and also how to downsize an Aran sweater that is too big. Thanks.

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

Are you talking about changing a finished knitted Aran sweater into a cardigan and/or smaller sweater, or are you talking about how to modify the pattern so that you can then knit a smaller sweater and/or cardigan?

@peaceluvagstudios

2 жыл бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson Changing a finished oversized sweater thanks!

@peaceluvagstudios

2 жыл бұрын

I took the plunge and dyed my sweater today! It’s cooling down so can’t wait to see the finished colour. I went with wine. Next I will work on changing to a cardigan. I am so excited as I purchased this sweater when I was in the Aran Islands and haven’t really been able to wear it. Now it will have a new life. Thanks for your video to help me through the dying process. Blessings!

Does anyone know if I can change (in any way) the color of a black one? 😔 does bleach work?

@RoxanneRichardson

9 ай бұрын

Bleach will destroy wool.

How hot can you get the water without shrinking a pre- exsisting sweaterwith a stain?

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

Your answer can be found in the video description.

Did it shrink the wool after the dye job?

@RoxanneRichardson

5 жыл бұрын

That question is answered in the video.

Did it shrink?

would this method work on a new (banana republic) cotton sweater? if so which brand of dye?

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

Cotton is a plant fiber, not an animal fiber. The dyeing process is different for plant fibers.

@MattyMattnj1

2 жыл бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson thanks do you have a video on dying a very heavy cotton sweater? I'm assuming you wouldn't need to do it in the stovetop vinegar method rather just hot water in a bucket...?

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

@@MattyMattnj1 You need a different type of dye: fiber reactive, rather than acid. Dharma Trading sells both kinds.

If you use a cooking pot but it is completely cleaned afterwards, can't you still use it for cooking?

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

Every piece of advice I have ever seen on this topic has absolutely advised against using a pot to cook food in after using it for dyeing, unless you are using edible foods as dyes.

@now591

Жыл бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson Yikes 😨

Were you worried at all about the wool shrinking in the boiling water?

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

I was worried about *agitating* the wool while it was in the hot (not boiling) water. Fulling requires moisture, temperature change, and agitation. When wool is hot, the scales open up, which makes it more receptive to agitation, but the scales have to open up to let in the dye, which means the water has to be hot. A drastic change in temperature (dunking the hot wool in ice cold water) would have caused the scales to close up and lock, without agitation.

Do we use regular cloth dye or is the dye for wool different?

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

What do you mean by "regular cloth"? Different fibers (plant vs animal vs synthetic) need different types of dye. Any of those fibers can be used to create cloth. The video description tells you what category of dye I used for my wool sweater, as well as the specific brand.

@Fatimahashimm

2 жыл бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson yes i understood that but i can not find any acid dye and i dont understand what to do

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

@@Fatimahashimm Google *acid dye for wool*. It's widely available.

@Fatimahashimm

2 жыл бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson in my country its not and if it is its only available in huge amounts is there really no other option? Thankyou for responding tho means alot

Will the sweater shrink because of the heat?

@RoxanneRichardson

5 жыл бұрын

I discussed my concerns about whether the sweater might felt, and when and how water temperature is a concern, and finally, what the result was.

Why would such hot water not shrink the wool sweater?

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

Wool needs moisture, agitation and temperature change in order to felt. Wool is fine at virtually any temperature, as long as the change in temperature isn't rapid. It's a rapid *change* that shocks the wool. That's why I started with warmish water in the sink and the dyepot, and then gradually brought the pot up to simmering. If I had brought the pot up to simmering first, and then put the wool in, that might have been too great a change, particularly if the sweater was soaking in cool water.

Another questions Roxanne (then I will stop pestering you) what brand of dye did you purchased?

@RoxanneRichardson

10 ай бұрын

That information is listed in the video description.

@aninehartog3950

10 ай бұрын

Sorry - Thanks you Roxanne it is much appreciated

Which acid do u use.. ??

@RoxanneRichardson

5 жыл бұрын

It's at 9:40 in the video.

Which type of dye did you use ?

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

That information is in the video description.

If i put woll in very hot water will it shrink 🤔

@RoxanneRichardson

5 ай бұрын

No, it won't. Wool tolerates extremely high temperatures. If you put it in very hot water, and then agitate it, THEN it will shrink and felt. If you let it sit in the water undisturbed as it gradually heats up, it'll be fine.

@sarahfarah1953

5 ай бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson so if i have very wide sweater and i want to shrink it how can i do it

@RoxanneRichardson

5 ай бұрын

@@sarahfarah1953 The fabric doesn't just become a smaller version of what it was before. It shrinks in both directions (usually more in length than width) and the fabric will become thicker and stiffer, losing its drape, and you will lose stitch definition. Take it to an alterations specialist and see if they can do something with it.

@sarahfarah1953

5 ай бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson thanks for this great information but it is long and iam in egypt we dont have this job here and i thought i will not loose anthing if i give it a try instead of not wear it at all

I tried this but my sweater dyed, I was very sad.

add some mustard oil to make it stay longer.

@chriscaine7689

4 жыл бұрын

Never heard of that method, please explain?

how come the sweater didn't shrink in that heat?

@RoxanneRichardson

4 жыл бұрын

Because I didn't over agitate it. There's an explanation in the video description of what conditions cause wool to felt.

How can you dye a wool sweater in hot water without shrinking it?

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

That's explained in the video description.

@conniepayne4425

3 жыл бұрын

@@RoxanneRichardson Got it. Thank you!

What is the name of the dye you used?

@RoxanneRichardson

Жыл бұрын

It's listed in the video description.

You really need to agitate it real well to felt wool.

Why wouldn't you knit a dark color?

@RoxanneRichardson

6 жыл бұрын

I can't read my knitting! :-)

What is "a 1/4 cup of vinegar" in Continental measurements? ( Brexit came 40 years too late. Hope we can get rid of all those mm,cm,s kilos)

@RoxanneRichardson

3 жыл бұрын

You can convert Imperial to Metric (and vice versa) by typing your question into Google, e.g., "what is 1/4 c in ml?"

Thank you for the video. Im going to dye this green merino wool sweater to more of a earthy olive green for hunting.

Im not interested in dying the yarn , but the sweater only

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

You can't dye the sweater without changing the color of the yarn.

But this is not a wool sweater, isn't it? If it was... 85 degrees will have made it shrink horrible!

@RoxanneRichardson

2 жыл бұрын

It's absolutely 100% wool. Temperature isn't what causes wool to shrink. The explanation is in the video description.