Do you use the same procion dyes as you do on cotton?

Thanks,
Laura Q

i tried the procion dyes but didn't have much luck. it took a LOT of dye to get a light/medium shade. i gave up and bought the jacard acid dyes from dharma. they are what was used in my sig pic :)

i sometimes use the procion MX (fiber reactive) dyes on wool, even though they're more appropriate for cellulose fibers. wool requires an acid environment, though, so if you use soda ash, which is alkaline, you won't have much luck. you have to use an acid such as vinegar, citric acid or acetic acid, either in your dye bath or to pre treat your wool.

when used in an acid environment, i've found that i need much less dye than i would for cotton. my major complaint is that the dye doesn't exhaust in the dyebath (meaning that when you're done dying, there is still a ton of dye left in the wool that has to be rinsed out). it takes forever to rinse clear, and even after it SEEMS to be rinsed completely i still sometimes get some bleeding onto my hands or knitting needles.

the various brands of acid dyes are much more appropriate for protein fibers. koolaid and wilton cake colors are acid dyes (the koolaid already has citric acid in it, but you have to use vinegar or citric with the wilton's). i'm currently experimenting with lanaset acid dyes, and i've worked with the gaywool dyes in the past. darhma carries several types of acid dyes, as does pro chemical.

let me know if you've got any more specific questions. i've done a bit of dying in my life :D and if i can't answer your question, i can probably find an answer somewhere...

by the way, shannon, i LOVE your sig pic :D