Dyeing wool using the season’s hottest colors using PRO Chem dyes
Have you noticed some years you can find all sorts of things in your favorite colors and other years you can’t find anything? Is there a conspiracy? Yes. So if you can’t beat them, join them. Dye your wool in the latest most desirable colors. These are the fall 2012 forecast colors from Pantone.
Dyeing Using Pro Chem Dyes
When I see a color like bright chartreuse in the forecast, I know I will be buying all sorts of new stuff. I love that color. Makes me happy. Just a few weeks ago, I bought a bicycle. Sure I was in the market for a bike, but when I saw this color, I couldn’t go home without it. I’ve been looking for a bike in that color for years. A quick spin around the parking lot and I made up my mind.
Love this bike! Back to wool. . .
Every season, PRO Chem publishes a list of their dyes that most closely match the current fashion colors. I’ve always checked out the most current fashion colors, but I never understood the way PRO Chem labeled the color quantities. I usually dye by eye and I just kept adding dye until I got the value right.
When I first started dyeing my wool for rug hooking, I relied very heavily on the PRO Chem technical support department. If I had a question, they were just a phone call away. They have some written instructions (for Washfast acid dyes) on their website to help you learn how to dye wool, but sometimes you need to talk to a person.
A simple email to the technical department, gave me the answers I needed. I translated all the math so you can use this table to get the right value. All quantities assume 1/2 yard of standard rug hooking weight wool. All dyes are Washfast Acid Dyes.
A lot of math and translation went into this presentation. The colors are what PRO Chem recommends to get close, the quantities are mine. Please let me know if you experience any problems. As soon as it cools down some or before Cape May rug camp, whichever comes first, I’ll show you my results.
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Dye Recipes for 2012 Fall Colors
French Roast – 1/4 + 1/8 tsp. 502 Chocolate Brown
Honey Gold – 1/16 tsp. 122 Mustard
Pink Flambé – 1/8 tsp. 341 Raspberry Sorbet
Tangerine Tango – 3/4 tsp. 231 Tiger Lily
Ultramarine Green – 1/4 +1/8 tsp. 408 Seabreeze
Bright Chartreuse – 1/4 + 1/8 tsp. 724 Key Lime
Olympian Blue – 3/4 tsp. 407 Sky Blue
Titanium – 1/16 tsp. 670 Charcoal Grey
Rhapsody – 1/8 tsp. 813 Deep Purple
Rose Smoke – 1/8 tsp. 845 Lilac
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Dyeing by the Numbers
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Dyed wool is an essential material for any rug hooking project, offering a wide range of colors and textures. If you’re looking for a detailed guide to get started, dyed wool for rug hooking is a fantastic tutorial that covers everything from basic techniques to advanced dyeing methods.
If you’re interested in experimenting with unique effects, dyeing sky rug hooking offers a creative tutorial to help you create beautiful, sky-inspired hues that add a dynamic touch to your designs.
For beginners or those looking to refine their skills, how to start dyeing wool is the perfect tutorial to help you master the basics and develop your own style in wool dyeing.
These tutorials offer step-by-step guidance to enhance your rug hooking projects with vibrant, hand-dyed wool. Happy hooking and enjoy exploring the colorful world of wool dyeing!
Hi Cindy! I have a Portuguese needlepoint rug that my kitty threw up on. I, unfortunately (and stupidly) tried to clean it with Oxyclean rug cleaner which took out the color. I have been advised to use a Qtip with matching dye. Prochem has been recommended. I have a photo that represents the color well. I could email it to you and wondered if you would be willing to help me select a similar color. I realize it is not going to be perfect. I would GREATLY appreciate any help. Thank you! Janet Bailey
I am brand new to dyeing and I plan on using the ProChem dyes to dye fiber for spinning. I don’t understand what you mean when you say “hook dye”. Is the method the same? – using dye stock solutions? Thanks!
I am looking for an oriental red dye receipe perhaps a spot dye
I don’t have formulas specifically for oriental rugs. I just use what I like. I know it goes against the norm, but if I were weaving an oriental rug a hundred years ago, I would use what I have on hand. If it worked for them…..
thanks for taking time to develop these recipes AND sharing them with those of us with limited experience.
My pleasure. Good luck with your dyeing.
My dye book, Dyeing by the Numbers, is based on the theory of making a solution and then using ordinary measuring spoons instead of Grey dye spoons (approx. $50). The dye book itself is less than 1/2 of that cost.
Oh sorry! : – / Since I dye my own wool, I don’t look at recipe books. And the formulas you wrote up “looked like” the traditional dry dye sort of recipe. I really don’t understand why anyone wants to use those fussy dye spoons.
How fun! I didn’t know that Pro Chem did this; thanks for the info. I learned to dye when I started out as a weaver and their formulas reflect the way I was taught. You weight what you are dyeing and then figure out the proportions for water, dye, chemicals, etc. Very difficult using our US system, much easier using the Metric system so I do that! I also DO NOT use the usual rug hooking/dyeing method of baby measuring spoons….. Did you know that you can make stock solutions (like 1 teaspoon of dye to 1 quart of water) and keep them for 6 months? Much easier than figuring out teeny tiny proportions…. I always enjoy your informative posts, thanks again.