Mixed-Up Monday: Taupe

  Taupe is a fun neutral to work with because it has so many variations.   I sometimes like to add it to bright variegated colorways (like the current club color, Seed Pods)  just to tone down and give more depth and contrast to vibrant colors.

Seed Pods

What you'll need:

gloves

wool: fiber or yarn

acid: citric or vinegar

acid dyes: brown, black, yellow, magenta, turquoise, blue (dye stock tutorial here)

dye pot: stainless steel or crock pot

measuring spoons

I'll be using 1 oz bundles of mixed  breed wool combed top.

Gather wool and soak in room temp tap water until fully saturated.  I always keep mine wrapped in nylon net while rinsing and soaking. 

Add a few inches of water (enough that it will cover the amount of wool you're using) to a dye pot.

Add 1/2 tsp of citric acid or 2 tsp vinegar to the water.

First, add 1 tsp (5 ml) of brown dye stock to the pot.

Then add 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) Black dye stock.

I'm now adding 1 oz of damp wool to the pot.  

Turn heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes.  The water will be clear when done.

Let cool.

Prepare some rinse baths ( one with a few drops of textile detergent or Blue Dawn, the other just plain tap water).  

Hang or dry flat.

A nice basic taupe color to work with. :)

Variations:

I added 1/4 tsp of Yellow dye stock to this pot to get a warmer taupe.

Here I added 1/2 tsp Blue dye to warm it up toward brown.

Add just 1/8 tsp of Magenta for a softer feminine taupe color.

Adding 1/8 tsp of Turquoise dye stock will cool it down toward gray.

I can't pick a favorite.  I love them all!

xo

Next on Mixed Up Monday (6/15): apricot   terra-cotta