Hand-Dyed Cotton Socks

By Kristine Vejar
Published on April 4, 2016
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Kristine Vejar demystifies the magic behind natural dying in “The Modern Natural Dying” with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.
Kristine Vejar demystifies the magic behind natural dying in “The Modern Natural Dying” with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.
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If you’re dyeing new socks, wash them several times to prepare the fibers. Or give a comfy old pair of socks new life.
If you’re dyeing new socks, wash them several times to prepare the fibers. Or give a comfy old pair of socks new life.

You can produce a limitless rainbow of colors with tree bark, fungi, flowers, plants and even some bugs. In The Modern Dyer: A Comprehensive Guide to Dyeing Silk, Wool, Linen and Cotton at Home(STC Craft, 2015), Kristine Vejar offers user-friendly DIY techniques for producing consistent and long-lasting color for a variety of textiles. The following excerpt from Chapter 5, “Dyeing with Extracts,” will teach you how to make colorful, hand-dyed cotton socks.

Skills Learned: Basic dyeing on cellulose-based goods, Using a wheat bran bath

Use this project to become acquainted with the process of using extracts on cellulose-based fibers, and refer to the Cellulose Shade Card to make these socks in the colors and shades of your choice. Remember that the extracts listed on the Shade Card can be combined to make even more colors.

These socks are perfect for a first project dyeing cotton because the knit fabric soaks up dye easily. If you are using new socks, wash them several times before dyeing to prepare the fibers. Or dye some comfy old socks to brighten them up. Seeing a pop of color under a pant leg is nearly always uplifting. Use a teaspoon of the following dyes (or use the Shade Card for Cellulose-Based Fibers, available with book purchase, if dyeing by weight) to create the colors shown—weld (yellow), cochineal (magenta), or madder (red).

Goods

• White 100% cotton socks, 64g, scoured and mordanted, dipped in wheat bran bath (I used Maggie’s Organics Socks)

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