Name: Suzanne
Message: I am wanting to dye a baby jacket knitted in a 70% wool/30% nylon yarn. The manufacturer could not recommend a dye for a mixed blend. I am hoping you will be able to help. Many thanks, in anticipatiion.

As a general rule, the dyes that work on wool will also work on nylon, though it might take the dye a little more or less intensely. Although nylon is a synthetic fiber, it chemically resembles wool and other proteins. The dyes used on wool and nylon are called acid dyes, because they are used with a mild acid such as vinegar.

Since baby clothes must be washed a great deal, I strongly recommend that you use high washfastness as your priority in choosing a dye. Most acid dyes will tend to wash out in hot water. The most wash-resistant of dyes for wool are the Lanaset or Lanasol dye series. They are so wash-resistant that their washfastness is rated for the results of washing garments dyed with it in 140°F hot water, instead of 105°F lukewarm water as is used for testing the washfastness of other kinds of acid dyes.

See "Lanaset Dyes: A Range of Reactive and Acid Dyes for Protein Fibers".

You will get best results if, along with your dye, you also buy the auxiliary chemicals recommended in the best recipes for Lanaset dye. For dyeing the jacket a single solid color, please examine PRO Chemical & Dye's instructions for "Immersion Dyeing using Sabraset/Lanaset Dyes"; for rainbow-dyeing it two or more different colors, see their instructions for "Rainbow Dyeing using Sabraset/Lanaset Dyes".

Lanaset dyes tend to be more expensive than other types of dye for wool, but the dyes go a long way, and the colors are very rich. For pale pastels, use a much smaller quantity of dye powder in the recipe. To dye one pound of yarn a dark color, you will need nine grams of dye powder, but to dye it a pale color, you will need only one gram of dye per pound of yarn. (Always weigh your materials before dyeing them.) To get started on dyeing with Lanaset dyes, you'll probably want to buy an four-color sampler set, which is less expensive than buying full-sized jars. It is unlikely that there's a local shop near you that sells these dyes; if you do, I want to encourage you to give it your business. If not, you can mail-order the dye. Good sources in the US include PRO Chemical & Dye, Paradise Fibers, and Earth Guild.

I just checked your IP address (which was included with your message); it looks as though you are in Australia. If so, this will make a difference in where you wish to order your dye from. The best source I know for Lanaset dyes in Australia is KraftKolour . It is not uncommon for Australian dyers to mail-order dyes from PRO Chemical & Dye or other American suppliers, but, in that case, it is necessary to telephone to place your order, so that you can specify a slower and more economical shipping method than is listed on the web sites. 

If you are ordering from KraftKolour, you should also consider their Lanasol dyes and their "Premet" (metal complex dyes, also known as premetallized dyes). These are excellent in washfastness, similar to the Lanaset dyes. Acid dyes that are not premetallized will not resist washing nearly as well as Lanaset, Lanasol, and premetalized dyes. The Lanasol dyes are fiber reactive dyes for wool, and are, in my opinion, the most suitable type of dye to use for dyeing wool baby garments; in the US, they are sold as part of the Lanaset dye range.

(Please help support this web site. Thank you.)