Black food dye?

[martha_allen85]

Hello!
I've been playing about, dying white wool yarn with black food dye with vinegar, but it keeps just taking a dark red from the bath and leaving the water a lovely blue/violet shade, that won't take at all since the yarn saturates itself with red! I'd like the colours to split but can't work it out!
Any tips? Is it when I'm using the vinegar - soaking the yarn in vinegary water, then adding it to a heated dye bath with more vinegar? Is this too much?
Help!

[something_wierd]

I'm interested to see if anyone has suggestions for you.  I personally can't think of anything.  Some colors move faster than others (think paper chromatography in Jr. high science).  I guess the faster color would be the red.  The fiber would then can't take up any more color, leaving the blue behind.

Could you maybe try less dye in the bath?  Like, add just a tiny bit at a time, letting the bath exhaust before adding more?  I have no idea if that will actually work.  Maybe I can get out to the store tomorrow and pick up some black food coloring.  What brand are you using?

I feel some science coming on!  Better get my lab coat!

[martha_allen85]

It's Supercook, bought in the UK.  I have unfortunately run out of plain wooly yarn to experiment with, so might have to wait a while before I can mess about further  But if I crack it, I'll let you know!

[eat_agar]

The next time you get to try just use water, no vinegar, and add the dye after pre-soaking the fiber. Heat it up and let the blue/violet get a head start on the reds. When you think you've got enough blue add the vinegar a little, little bit at at time and keep up the heating process until the water is clear. Leaving it overnight might help, too.

[rednightsky86]

You could also try using salt and not vinegar

[knkurz]

I've heard from several people that black food colorings do weird things when one tries to dye with them.  Is it possible that "black" just won't take completely?

[zuxana]

I've had McCormick's Black take completely without splitting.  You just have to start out with a tablespoon of vinegar, and add another, and another, etc, about 5 minutes apart until the pot is exhausted.

If I were not in the middle of moving, I would drag that bit of wool out and get a pic of it.  It turned out a nice, DARK solid black.