Name: Christine

Message: Your website is full of useful information. I know I want to dye mohair "Tom" material from LouBear. Which product can I purchase? Can we purchase from you? Which section I can directly learn about the Mohair dye?

Mohair is a natural protein fiber that can be dyed with the same dyes that work on wool. It takes dyes beautifully. It should not be boiled, but must be heated to a high temperature that is below boiling for the dye to take; this temperature should be maintained for at least half an hour or an hour to give the dye plenty of time to bond to the fiber. A good temperature range for dyeing mohair is 145°F to 180°F (63°C to 82°C).

For a single smooth solid shade, you should use a relatively large amount of water in a cooking pot, enough that your mohair fabric can move freely as you stir it in the dyebath. For more interesting variegated colors, you can stuff the fabric into quart-sized glass jars, adding the dye ingredients and a smaller amount of water to each jar with the fabric, and place these into a pot of water which you maintain at the desired temperature level. Use a thermometer to make sure your water is at the correct temperature for dyeing. If you use dyes directly in a cooking pot, do not use it again for food, ever, unless the dye you choose to use is food coloring, which is safe for use in food preparation utensils. Food coloring, such as that found in unsweetened artificially flavored drink mix powder, works surprisingly well as a dye for mohair, but commercial acid dyes will work even better.

If the fur of the mohair clumps up into separate locks when it is wet with dye, you will need to physically open the clumps so that the dye can penetrate evenly, as otherwise you will obtain areas that are less intensely dyed, or entirely undyed. Be sure to wear gloves when contacting the dye. You do not want to get dye onto your hands unnecessarily.

The most washfast (resistant to fading when laundered) dyes for mohair include the Remazol fiber reactive dyes, the reactive and metal complex dyes in the Lanaset range of dyes, and other metal complex dyes (also known as premetalized or premetallised dyes). You can use Jacquard Acid dyes, ProChem's Washfast Acid Dyes, Lanaset dyes from ProChem in the US or KraftKolour in Australia, or any other sort of acid dye. You can also use an all-purpose dye, such as Rit dye or Tintex Hot Water Dye, but these will be less resistant to fading when washed. See my page of "Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World", for good companies from which to order dyes intended for use on wool and mohair. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for dyeing wool, except for using a lower temperature for your dyebath. You will need to use a mild acid as a helper chemical for your dye, such as Albegal SET for Lanaset dyes (sold by the same companies that sell the Lanaset dyes), or citric acid or ordinary white vinegar for other acid dyes (including food coloring).

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