Dyeing with wiltons food dye paste?

[JustLookin]

I think someone suggested this to me and I am wondering, how much does it usually take? I think they come in 1oz and 1/2oz jars. Would I need to use the whole jar?

And how would I do it? do I just mix it with water and dye like I usually do with kool aid?

[BethyM99]

I haven't used the whole jar. You have to add vinegar to the Wiltons. It doesn't have the acid in it like the KoolAid does.

I bought one of those 4 packs, primary colors? I think...anyway, I have dyed several times and still have plenty left.

[JustLookin]

ok, so just use a little(depending on how deep the color?) and add vinegar then add it and dye as I normally do(in a pot on the stove)?

[BethyM99]

I mix my paste in water/vinegar in a coffee cup. You have to mix wiltons really well, because it takes a bit to get the gel to dissolve.

I soak the yarn in a water/vinegar solution. Then I do the dyeing, I have used the microwave method as well as done some in my crock pot.

It's basically the same as kool-aid, just use the vinegar with the wiltons

[JustLookin]

thanks girls :mwah Ill pick some up then!

I usually soak my yarn in vinegar, pour that vinegar water into a spaghetti pot and add the kool aid straight to it, mix then add my yarn sections.

Ill do the same but with the wiltons and vingar mix.

Im going to use the black because I hear it gives a motled blue/purple which would be nice, if it turns out right, LOL

[pmcgary]

Actually when I have used the black I get the greenish tones. My "pumpkin patch" yarn is black and orange.

Cornflower and Royal blue are what give me the mottled blue purple....

I really wouldn't try the black as the results seem to me to be very unpredictable.

[JustLookin]

ohh, hmmmm maybe Ill buy a bunch of colors and test to see what I get from them all.

[BerryPatchMama]

I have a bunch of Wilton's. It doesn't take much, especially if you use it to "hand paint" the yarn in sections. I usually soak my yarn in vinegar & water, then lay it out on a jelly rolll sheet and apply the paste directly. You might wanna use gloves.. or else you end up with some nasty looking fingers

[JustLookin]

yeah I used some to make candy with and my fingers were yellow for a week.

What would be the best way to hand paint and make sure it sets? The only way of dyeing that I have had total sucess with is on the stove in a spaghetti pot, all the other ways have cause bleeding of the color onto a wet diaper or water.

[BerryPatchMama]

I use a microwave and nuke it for 2 minutes about 5 times, letting it rest in between and then rinse it. You can use a steamer to set the colors, too.

[ravingcutie]

Here's the easiest way I've found to avoid trying to get the gel to dissolve. Put a few drops of water into the Wilton's container & let it sit a while. Not long - just while you're getting other things read. Then - pour into your pot, etc. & use. Boiling the color in a pot on the stove helps dissolve it. Just turn off the heat, wait for the bubbles to stop and plunk the yarn in!

[pmcgary]

slow cooker works nice too. I just prepare it in there and let it warm while I soak the wool in another pan.