Name: Sandie
Message: Hello there,
I hope you'll be able to help me. I'd like to dye a 100% cashmere sweater from an orangey-red to black. What would you recommend to change the colour completely, where the colour won't run and the process won't shrink the sweater? Thanks very much.

My favorite black dye for silk and wool is Lanaset Black B, which is available from PRO Chemical & Dye under the brand name of Sabraset Jet Black. Unfortunately, it seems quite likely that the steaming required to set this dye might shrink the fiber. Perhaps you should contact them and ask for their advice.

There is a recipe for dyeing wool and similar fibers with only a small amount of heat, using the same type of fiber reactive dye that is more commonly used for tie-dyteing cotton, using acid instead of soda ash; see "Garbage Bag Dyeing with Wool using PRO MX Reactive Dyes". This method is wonderful for creating mottled colors that are not entirely predictable. A black cotton dye mixture may produce a different color, such as dark green or navy or brown, when used on an animal fiber such as cashmere. There is considerably less risk of shrinkage, however.

As a general rule, you should wash dyed wool only gently, with cool water, to prevent the dye from running. You can't expect a dye used on cashmere to be as permanent as Procion MX dye on cotton.

Since you are located in Canada, you may prefer to deal with Maiwa Handprints in Vancouver, which sells Lanaset dyes under the brand name of Telana, or G&S Dye in Toronto, which does not sell this type of dye, as far as I can tell, but which does sell another type of acid dye for animal fibers. Of course, you should only contact PRO Chemical & Dye for technical support, as I suggested above, if you intend to purchase from them. (They do ship to Canada.) Always call only your own supplier, if that becomes necessary.


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