Can iuse food coloring in dyeing material?

Question

Can iuse food coloring in dyeing material?

Answer 1

Food coloring is a fine dye for wool, and it works on silk and nylon, too, though not as well. However, it won't work at all on cotton, or rayon, or polyester. It will just wash out of those fibers, leaving at most an ugly stain.

Food coloring is a type of acid dye, and acid dyes can be used only on wool, silk, or nylon. You use it with a bit of vinegar, and you must cook the dye into the fabric by boiling gently. The fibers won't "take" acid dye without heat.

Get yourself some wool yarn, or some untreated nylon fabric, or a silk scarf. Make sure you don't use any sort of synthetic other than untreated nylon, and of course never use cotton or any other plant fiber. Any animal fiber will work, such as angora, cashmere, or even dog hair. (Some people spin yarn from their dog's hair, believe it or not.) Also get some ordinary white vinegar. Unlike cotton, wool likes acid when it is being dyed.

There is a recipe for tie-dyeing silk or wool fabric with unsweetened Kool-aid in one of the links below. Unsweetened Kool-aid is a popular source of synthetic food dyes for dyeing wool. The other page has lots more information on dyeing with food coloring, including a link to a recipe for dyeing wool yarn with food coloring.

Answer 2

I've tried it and unfortunately, it's not a permanent dye.