Fiber Diaries - Video # 4 - Swatching Green Acid Dyes on Falkland Wool Roving | Exploring Color Behavior and Exhaustion

Welcome to another exciting dive into the world of fiber dyeing! In this video, I took six different green acid dyes and swatched them onto Falkland wool roving to explore how each dye behaves, exhausts, and to get a better feel for their true colors. If you’re passionate about dyeing yarn or fiber, this is a must-watch for understanding the subtle differences between these popular green acid dyes.

The Green Acid Dyes I Used

For this experiment, I used a range of green acid dyes from well-known brands, all prepared in 1% stock solutions for consistency. Here’s the full list of the dyes I swatched:

• Dharma Chartreuse (1% stock solution) https://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-acid-dyes.html

• Jacquard Emerald (1% stock solution) https://amzn.to/46FaFqE

• Jacquard Crocodile Green (1% stock solution) https://amzn.to/4ciPgEY

• Dharma Moss Green (1% stock solution) https://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-acid-dyes.html

• Ashford Green (1% stock solution) https://www.thefiberists.com/products/ashford-wool-dye-collection-12-x-10gm?srsltid=AfmBOoolO57hc5Escp_Q1etuADr1WiiUqUkgnRuVWGxTFXpupBMIB1aD

• G&K Evergreen

Each of these dyes offers unique shades and properties, making it essential to understand how they interact with the fiber and how well they exhaust during the dyeing process.

Why I Swatched Green Acid Dyes on Falkland Wool

Swatching is a crucial step for any fiber artist who wants to achieve consistent, repeatable colorways. By swatching these green acid dyes on Falkland wool roving, I was able to observe how each dye behaves on this soft, versatile fiber. Falkland wool is known for its excellent absorbency and vibrant color uptake, making it an ideal choice for testing dyes.

In this swatching session, I focused on the following key factors:

• Color Behavior: How does each dye appear on the fiber? Are the colors vibrant or more muted? Do they match the expected hue based on their labels?

• Dye Exhaustion: How well do these dyes exhaust, meaning how completely do they bond with the fiber? Some dyes require more attention to ensure full exhaustion, while others perform effortlessly.

• General Feel for Color: The true color of a dye can sometimes surprise you, especially when it comes to green dyes. Seeing the final color on the fiber helps me plan future projects and determine which dye is best for different effects.

Results and Observations

Each dye had its own personality when it came to color saturation, vibrancy, and exhaustion:

• Dharma Chartreuse: A bright, vivid green with excellent exhaustion and bold color payoff.

• Jacquard Emerald: A rich, jewel-toned green that adds depth and dimension to any fiber project.

• Jacquard Crocodile Green: Darker and more muted, this green provides a natural, earthy tone.

• Dharma Moss Green: A warm, forest-inspired shade that offers great versatility in dyeing.

• Ashford Green: A strong, balanced green with good saturation, ideal for fiber artists seeking a classic green shade.

• G&K Evergreen: A deep, lush green, perfect for creating dark, dramatic colorways.

Why Swatching Acid Dyes Is Important

If you're serious about achieving consistent results in your fiber dyeing projects, swatching is a must. Without testing, it’s difficult to predict how dyes will behave or what color you’ll end up with. This is especially important for green dyes, as they can vary significantly in shade and behavior depending on the brand and the fiber you're dyeing.

By taking the time to swatch, I can confidently create repeatable colorways and avoid the disappointment of unpredictable results. Plus, it's a great way to get familiar with how dyes exhaust and ensure you're not left with lingering dye in your dyebath.

Watch the Video and Get to Know Your Green Dyes

If you're ready to dive into the details of how these green acid dyes performed on Falkland wool roving, be sure to watch the full video. You’ll see each dye in action and get my thoughts on how they behave, exhaust, and ultimately, which ones stand out for future projects.

Subscribe to Rebel Stitchers on YouTube for more fiber dyeing tutorials, swatching experiments, and fiber arts tips!

For a full list of all of my favorite fiber supplies check this post out: https://www.rebelstitchers.com/post/my-favorite-fiber-processing-tools-and-fiber-dyeing-equipment