Fiber Diaries #7 - Using and Swatching Brown Acid Dyes on Gulf Coast Native Roving

Photo of a Gulf Coast native Sheep before shearing

Welcome back to Rebel Stitchers! In my latest video, I recently experimented with dyeing Gulf Coast Native roving using all of the brown acid dyes I own. The goal was to swatch these colors out and observe how they behaved throughout the dyeing process. For this experiment, I used G&K Caramel, Jacquard Brown, and Dharma Espresso Bean acid dyes. As part of the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em program, I’m committed to raising awareness for endangered sheep breeds, and what better way to showcase this than by experimenting with vibrant, rich colors on this rare wool?

The Colors I Swatched:

For this dye experiment, I used the following acid dyes:

• G&K Caramel: https://woolery.com/pro-washfast-acid-dyes.html

• Jacquard Brown: https://amzn.to/4i6s40H

• Dharma Espresso Bean: https://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-acid-dyes.html

Each of these dyes has its own unique properties, so I wanted to see how they behaved on Gulf Coast Native wool roving, a fiber that’s not only beautiful but also part of my effort to support endangered sheep breeds through the Shave 'Em to Save 'Em program.

Using Brown Acid Dyes on Roving - The Dyeing Process

I dyed the roving using a low-immersion method in a steam pan and a premixed 1% stock solution of each color, allowing me to see how the colors developed as they interacted with heat, acid, and time. Each dye had its own unique transformation, making this an informative and fun project.

Color Behavior

• G&K Caramel – This dye remained pretty consistent from start to finish, maintaining its warm caramel tone without any unexpected shifts in hue.

• Jacquard Brown – This dye initially appeared blueish but changed dramatically throughout the process. As it heated up and acid was introduced, it transitioned into a greenish-brown shade.

• Dharma Espresso Bean – This dye started off with a strong purple hue. While it did become more muted over time with heat and acid, it still retained a purplish-brown tone rather than a true brown.

Final Thoughts

This experiment was a great way to understand the nuances of each brown acid dye and how they behave when applied to wool roving. The differences in color shifts were fascinating—especially how some dyes underwent dramatic transformations while others remained true to their original shade.

If you're looking for a more neutral brown, G&K Caramel is the safest bet. However, if you want more variation and unique tones, Jacquard Brown and Dharma Espresso Bean bring some interesting surprises to the table.

Would you like to see more dye swatching experiments? Let me know in the comments!