Anyone dyed black yarn?

[MosaicMoonMama]

I want to make some plain, dark, black soaker pants for my daughter for winter--she wears them under all her dresses kind of like tights. I have been dyeing yarn all day and threw some in the pot for the black. All I am getting is a charcoal grey! Is there some secret to a deep, rich, black? I may have to go buy some already dyed. Oh, and I am using TONS of dye!

[pmcgary]

I used wiltons black and it took over 1/2 a jar to get black...for a pair of shorts. And the color is not uniform. I would say go ahead and buy some as it isn't worth the expense or effort IMO>

[MosaicMoonMama]

Thanks for answering me! :chin I wonder why it's so hard? I have about $20 in merino in it already so I am going to buy MORE black dye tomorrow and try dyeing it over again!

[jmo]

I tried the Wilton's, too, and it was really bad.

I then overdyed w/ Dharma's acid dye in black, and it was much, much better. If I had just started out w/ the acid dye, I think it would have been best.

[MosaicMoonMama]

Michelle, did you end up with a black black with the acid dye?

[Meredith]

Maybe you are going to have to get natural black, Morwenna?

[MosaicMoonMama]

That's a good idea--though I had read that the only way to get black natural is to make the sheep wear "coats" CONSTANTLY, even in hot weather, so the sun doesn't fade their wool :emb I am going to rinse the yarn, leave it overnight, and go to my LYS tomorrow for more black acid dye and do it all over. Maybe I will end up with black? hope..hope..

[Susan_WW]

Sorry, haven't tried black yet. I'm still scared to try navy blue LOL!

[FabriConnection]

I won't dye black b/c of bleeding issues, it's worsethan reds :lol: I use natural black a lot, and keep inmind it's not totally black, it does have some grey hairs in it, and sometimes is a dark dark chocolate brown.

[ravingcutie]

THis isn't much help, but I'd buy your black predyed. It will save a bunch of hassle. But for the stuff you've already got going, definitely go acid dyes. Wilton's just isn't colorfast enough or "strong enough" in my opinion.

[abigailvr]

Moving this to the Dyeing Yarn forum.

[nyllek]

When I wanted a true black I went with the Cascade 220 for some shorts I made.

[MosaicMoonMama]

Thank you everyone! I went to my LYS and bought a big container of a dye called Gay Wool. It has the acid already in it so you don't use vinegar! I DID get a black black :pink but it took dyeing it 2 MORE times! I ended up dyeing 4 skeins while I was at it, and I think it cost me about $14 to dye them all :goodgrief But it's done and I have BLACK!

[averymybaby]

Well, if the black you dyed is what you used on your most recent charity auction, I have to say it looks AMAZING. Very nice job, Morwenna!! :mwah :pink :faint

[littleturtlemama]

I use acid dyes to get black, and I definitely can get a true jet black, but it's a pita to do all the rinsing, and I don't use my usual mthod to dye. I'll dye the black frist ont eh stovetop, then have to rinse forever, and then go back and dye the rest of the colors with the steam method.

I do carry a jet black yarn that's dyed by the farm, and I keep forgettign to add it to the site. I've never had problems with it running, or with my own dyed black running either.