Dharma Trading Co.
Dyes Paints Clothing & Dyeables Fabric Scarves Chemicals Markers
Transfer Products Books Tools Resists Yarn & Fibers Techniques
 
View Cart
My Palette
Drag Color Chips
HERE
 

Jacquard Acid Dyes

USE FOR: Tub Dyeing or direct application (with steaming)

USE ON: Protein fibers like Silk, wool, hair (fur), nylon, feathers, etc.

Acid dyes are made for dyeing wool, silk and other protein fibers, and nylon, and nothing does it better. If you have skeins of yarn or yards of fabric to dye, you've come to the right place. These powdered dyes are intended for tub-dyeing yardage, yarns or clothing. Directions are also available for using it in direct application methods (like painting) and steam-setting. These dyes are bright, economical, and they exhaust well. Because of that and the fact that you can use them with common Vinegar, they are considered a "low impact" dye.

Made in: N/A
  • Colors & Ordering
  • Description
  • Instructions
  • Brochures
  • FAQ
  • Tutorials
  • Videos

Bigger Colorchips [+]
NameSizesQuant½ oz.8 oz.1 lb.
 600 Ecru
 $3.55 $5.28 $10.02
601 Sun Yellow (Primary)
 $3.55 $14.92 $28.17
602 Bright Yellow
 $3.55 $16.45 $31.07
603 Golden Yellow
 $3.55 $10.17 $18.10
604 Burnt Orange
 $3.55 $9.23 $17.53
605 Pumpkin Orange
 $3.55 $13.52 $25.30
606 Deep Orange
 $3.55 $20.68 $40.82
607 Salmon
 $3.55 $6.85 $11.83
608 Pink (Primary)
 $3.55 $14.72 $27.73
NameSizesQuant½ oz.8 oz.1 lb.
 609 Bright Scarlet
 $3.55 $10.13 $19.25
610 Burgundy
 $3.55 $14.25 $27.03
611 Vermilion
 $3.55 $23.12 $44.77
612 Lilac
 $3.55 $17.58 $34.80
613 Purple
 $3.55 $22.68 $42.57
614 Violet
 $3.55 $22.40 $37.37
615 Periwinkle
 $3.55 $13.98 $26.57
616 Russet
 $3.55 $24.17 $46.25
617 Cherry Red (Primary)
 $3.55 $20.07 $38.32
618 Fire Red
 $3.55 $15.17 $29.32
NameSizesQuant½ oz.8 oz.1 lb.
 619 Crimson
 $3.55 $22.13 $42.32
620 Hot Fuschia
 $3.55 $20.13 $33.58
621 Sky Blue (Primary)
 $3.55 $15.02 $28.32
622 Sapphire Blue
 $3.55 $19.13 $36.35
623 Brilliant Blue
 $3.55 $20.13 $38.25
624 Turquoise (Primary)
 $3.55 $17.13 $32.55
625 Royal Blue
 $3.55 $19.73 $37.48
626 Navy Blue
 $3.55 $12.55 $23.32
627 Brilliant Kelly Green
 $3.55 $23.13 $43.95
628 Chartreuse
 $3.55 $24.13 $45.85
NameSizesQuant½ oz.8 oz.1 lb.
 629 Emerald
 $3.55 $14.97 $28.32
630 Spruce
 $3.55 $19.93 $37.87
631 Teal
 $3.55 $15.98 $30.38
632 Chestnut
 $3.55 $17.72 $33.13
633 Aztec Gold
 $3.55 $10.17 $18.83
634 Olive Green
 $3.55 $11.98 $22.72
635 Brown
 $3.55 $16.68 $31.67
636 Golden Ochre
 $3.55 $12.48 $23.68
637 Gun Metal
 $3.55 $16.85 $29.93
638 Silver
 $3.55 $6.13 $11.65
NameSizesQuant½ oz.8 oz.1 lb.
 639 Jet Black
 $3.55 $12.43 $20.82
Download
Instructions

Acid dyes are made for dyeing wool, silk and nylon and no other type of dye does it better. If you have skeins of yarn or yards of fabric to dye, this is the type of dye you need. These powdered dyes are intended for tub-dyeing yardage, yarns or clothing. They can also be used for painting but they're not our first choice. If you intend to paint on silk or wool, you can choose one of our other silk dyes from the website, or see the manufacturers directions for painting it on and steaming it below. You can use these dyes either on top of your stove or in a washing machine (have to get the water pretty hot). The only other thing needed is a little white vinegar from your pantry or some other mild acid like Citric. Acid dyes are very economical, as they react fast, they exhaust well and the results are Very Permanent- light and wash fast! Because they exhaust so well and can be used with household vinegar, they could also be considered to be a "low impact" dye.

1/2 oz. dyes up to 2 lbs. of dry fabric, depending on the depth of shade desired. If going for a specific shade depth, test!

Instructions

GENERAL INFORMATION AND USE

Acid dyes are made for dyeing wool, silk and nylon These powdered dyes are intended for tub-dyeing yardage, yarns or clothing. You can use these dyes either on top of your stove or in a washing machine but they do require very hot water to work properly. Washing machines don't get as hot, but do maintain consistent time, temperature and agitation, yielding more consistent results. The only other thing needed is household white vinegar or a mild powdered acid like Citric which is actually more economical and eliminates the Vinegar smell. Acid dyes are very economical, as they react fast, they exhaust well and the results are very permanent - light and wash fast! For tub dyeing wool, silk and nylon solid colors, this is the best dye. The end color depends on your temperature, how much dye you use, how long the fabric is in the dye, and how much fabric you have. Jacquard acid dye is non-toxic when handled properly.

If you have any problems after following the instructions, we have a "Dissolving and Trouble Shooting" segment we have written for you after much research. And as with all dye powders, you should handle them carefully. Common sense and good housekeeping (dust mask, gloves, proper ventilation, etc.) should always be used when handling any dye or chemicals. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

INSTRUCTIONS

Immersion Dyeing in a Washing Machine with Jacquard Acid Dyes

(Not for wool. Wool will felt in a washing machine. Use the stove top method for wool.)

These directions are for top loading washing machines only.

  1. Set the washing machine to the hottest wash/cool rinse and longest wash cycle. Some folks say to turn your hot water heater to its highest setting first and let it heat up, especially when you are going for black and other dark colors, or they add some boiling water to increase the temperature. CAUTION - if you turn up your water heater, warn your family and don't forget to turn it back down after your dyebath!!! Fill water to the lowest level appropriate for the amount of fabric being dyed.
  2. Get fabric wet then pull out and set aside.
  3. Add dye powder and agitate until dissolved. See chart below.
  4. Add clean wet fiber and agitate for a few minutes.
  5. Add one cup of vinegar being careful not to pour directly onto fabric. Or add 1 Tbs. of Citric Acid per lb of dry fabric if you don't like the smell of vinegar. Let agitate a few more minutes.
  6. Let machine run through cycle OR for maximum washfastness, stop and reset washer to maximum cycle length. Do not let the washing machine drain or start a new wash cycle. You just want to lengthen the time the fabric is in the dyebath. After resetting, let washer run through cycle.
  7. Remove fabric from washing machine. To ensure that all of the excess dye has been removed, you may want to run the fabric through another wash cycle with cool water and some Synthrapol or Professional Textile Detergent.
  8. Run washer through a large rinse cycle to remove any excess dye in the washing machine.

Stove Top Immersion Dyeing with Jacquard Acid Dyes

  1. Fill a stainless steel or enamel pot with just enough hot or warm water for the fabric to swim freely, turn on the heat.
  2. Add the dye powder to the pot and stir. Normally, in this procedure you would add 2 to 4% of the dry weight of the fabric in dye powder. For example, if you are dyeing 1 pound of fabric, use 1/3 to 2/3 of an ounce of dye.
  3. Add the fabric that has been thoroughly wetted to the dyepot.
  4. Raise the temperature to 185 to 200 degrees, just below boiling. Stir frequently.
  5. Add ¼ cup of vinegar per pound of fabric. Try not to pour directly onto the fabric. Or add 1 Tbs. of Citric Acid per lb of dry fabric if you don't like the smell of vinegar.
  6. Maintain temperature and stir frequently for ½ hour. Wash in Synthrapol or Professional Textile Detergent and warm water.

Note: If you are dyeing wool, a gradual heating and gradual cooling of the dyebath is important so as not to shock and felt the wool.

Silk Painting with Jacquard Acid Dyes

For professional silk painters who steam set, liquid acid dyes provide the brightest, most intense colors. To make your own liquid acid dyes for silk painting, use the following recipe:

  1. Stock Solution
    • Add 8 oz. (1 cup) of very hot water to one .5 oz. jar of Jacquard Acid Dye powder.
    • Stir until dissolved. This will yield a very concentrated dye stock solution. Most colors require further dilution. Note: Every color has a different solubility. Some colors are difficult to dissolve, but most are easily dissolved. A small amount of alcohol (about 1 tablespoon) can be added to the dye solution as a wetting agent.
  2. The final concentration of the dye solution for painting should be between 4 and 8%. Start by adding 4 oz. (1/2 cup) of water to the 8 ounces of stock solution you have, test the color and continue adding water until desired shade is achieved.

Keep in mind that the color intensity really develops in the steam setting process. Most colors will remain stable in solution for a long period of time. However, some colors will fall out of solution or gel upon cooling or from sitting for a matter of weeks. To restore them simply heat them on the stove.

Dharma Pro-Tip!: To improve color and colorfastness, before you begin painting, add 1 tsp of vinegar per cup of final dye solution.

Screen Printing, Stamping & Painting with Jacquard Acid Dyes

The traditional method of printing with dye is to add the dye to a thickener paste. This method can be used for screen printing, hand-painting, and stamping and many other direct application techniques. It is important to prepare the fiber by washing to remove the sizing.

  1. Wash, dry and iron the fabric.
  2. Prepare dye thickener paste (see below).
  3. Add dye, either powder or stock solution, to thickener. Proportion the dye in the container in relation to the amount of thickener paste and desired intensity. See Pro-Tip above.
  4. Print, paint, or stamp on fabric.
  5. Air dry. Steam set. (See Steam setting directions.)

Preparing Dye Thickener

When screen printing with dye thickened with sodium alginate, the print base should be as thin as the image will allow. Dye printed in too thick a base will halo from the image before the fabric is cured or will accumulate in the corners, altering the image. Sodium Alginate SH is a high viscosity, low solids type of alginate thickener used primarily for cotton and other cellulose fibers. It may also be used for silk when fine line definition is not required. Sodium Alginate F is a low viscosity, high solids alginate used for silks and synthetics when fine line definition is desired. Use about 2 1/2 times more of the F to equal the viscosity of SH.

  1. Mix chemical water by adding ¼ cup of urea and 1 Tablespoon of vinegar to 1 quart of water.
  2. Sprinkle sodium alginate over water and stir constantly for 10 minutes, OR mix in blender.
  3. Let stand for a few hours or overnight before using. Mixture may be stored in refrigerator for many months.

DHARMA COMMENTS:

This product consistently works well and is easy to get good results with. With Nylon, as with all fabrics, you must be sure there is no surface treatment that will interfere with the dye bonding with the fabric, i.e.: water repellents, stain resistance.

 

Dye Quantities Chart

The quantities listed are for the deepest color saturation in one pound of fabric. For pastels and lighter colors, use less dye.

.25 TO .5 ounces .5 TO 1.5 ounces 1.5 to 2 ounces up to 3 ounces
600 Ecru 604 Burnt Orange 606 Deep Orange 618 Fire Red
601 Yellow Sun 610 Burgundy 609 Scarlet 632 Chestnut
602 Bright Yellow 620 Hot Fuchsia 611 Vermillion 626 Navy Blue
603 Golden Yellow 627 Kelly Green 612 Lilac 635 Brown
605 Pumpkin Orange 628 Chartreuse 613 Purple 639 Black
607 Salmon 633 Aztec Gold 614 Violet  
608 Pink 634 Olive 615 Periwinkle  
636 Gold Ochre   616 Russet  
638 Silver Grey   617 Cherry Red  
    619 Crimson  
    621 Sky Blue  
    622 Sapphire Blue  
    623 Brilliant Blue  
    624 Turquoise  
    625 Royal Blue  
    629 Emerald  
    630 Spruce  
    631 Teal  
    637 Gun Metal  

 


Jacquard Acid Dye Properties

For wash & light fastness higher numbers are better.
Color Color Index # Solubility in
hot water
gm/liter		 Wash
Fastness
Scale 1-5		 Light
Fastness
Scale 1-7		 Dischargability
600
Ecru		 Mix 100      
601
Yellow Sun		 Yel 49 150 2-3 5-6 Good
602
Bright Yellow		 Yel 19 50 5 5 Moderate
603
Golden Yellow		 Yel 219 50 5 7 Moderate
604
Burnt Orange		 OR 116 40 5 5-6 Moderate
605
Pumpkin Orange		 Mix 10      
606
Deep Orange		 Red 000 10 5 7 Moderate/Good
607
Salmon		 Mix 30      
608
Pink		 Mix 20      
609
Scarlet		 Mix 20      
610
Burgundy		 Red 299 30-40 4-5 5-6 Good
611
Vermillion		 Mix        
612
Lilac		 Mix        
613
Purple		 Mix        
614
Violet		 Vio 43 10-20 1-2 5-6 Poor
615
Periwinkle		 Mix        
616
Russet		 Mix        
617
Cherry Red		 Red 266 25-30 4-5 6 Moderate
618
Fire Red		 Mix 30-40      
619
Crimson		 Mix 20      
620
Hot Fuchsia		 Red 52 100-150 3-4 2-3 Poor
621
Sky Blue		 Blue 129 20-30 4 4-5 Poor
622
Sapphire Blue		 Blue 25 50-60 1-2 4-5 Poor
623
Brilliant Blue		 Blue 62 100-150 2-3 4 Moderate
624
Turquoise		 Blue 7 30-40 3 1 Moderate
625
Royal Blue		 Blue 324 20-30 4-5 5-6 Poor
626
Navy Blue		 Blue 113 20-30 4-5 7 Poor
627
Kelly Green		 Mix 30-40      
628
Chartreuse		 Mix 30-40      
629
Emerald		 Mix 20-30      
630
Spruce		 Mix        
631
Teal		 Green 25 10-30 4 6 Poor
632
Chestnut		 Mix 40-50      
633
Aztec Gold		 Mix 50-60      
634
Olive		 Mix        
635
Brown		 Mix        
636
Gold Ochre		 Mix 30-50      
637
Gun Metal		 Mix 20-30      
638
Silver Grey		 Not
Released		 30-40 4-5 6 Poor
639
Jet Black		 Mix 40-50      

Acid Dye FAQ

Question:

What are Acid Dyes and how do they work?

Answer:

Acid dyes are made for dyeing wool, silk and nylon and nothing does it better. If you have skeins of yarn or yards of fabric to dye, you've come to the right place. These
powdered dyes are intended for vat-dyeing yardage, yarns or clothing. They can also be
used for painting but they're not our first choice. If you intend to paint on silk or wool,
choose one of the silk dyes from elsewhere in the catalog. You can use these dyes either
on top of your stove or in a washing machine but they do require very hot water to work
properly. The only other thing needed is a little white vinegar from your pantry. Acid dyes
are very economical, as they react fast, they exhaust well and the results are Very
Permanent- light and wash fast!

Question:

We want to dye silk scarves to fluoresce under black light for a scarf dance on stage. Are there any acid dyes that would work for this?

Answer:

Yes, actually 4 colors of the Acid Dye coincidentally do fluoresce (seem to brightly glow)under black light.
Those would be #608 Pink, #620 Hot Fuchsia, #627 Kelly Green, and #628 Chartreuse, with
#620 & #628 being the most popular. Great for dyeing the scarves a solid color.
Otherwise, you would have to use one of our fluorescent Pigment Dyes or Paints, which
have to be sprayed or painted on, and would not give such a nice even effect as
dyeing with the Acid Dye.

Question:

If I mix the Acid Dyes with Soda Ash instead of Vinegar, can I use them on cellulose fibers like cotton and Rayon?

Answer:

Sorry, no. These are not like our Fiber Reactive Dyes, which will dye any natural fiber depending on how it is used.
Acid Dyes were developed specifically for silk, wool and other protein fibers.
Therefore they dye feathers, hair and leather too, as long as they can endure
the simmering on the stove with the vinegar or citric acid, which you should always
test if you are dyeing something unusual, or expensive.
They also coincidentally dye Nylon, because it has a similar molecular structure to
silk, but also with vinegar or citric acid.
They will NOT dye cellulose fibers, because they are not chemically made to do that.
They may stain those fibers, but not very strongly.
Acid Dyed Yarn
Acid Dye is one of our most popular dyes. Here is a simple tutorial showing you how to make our yarn look like the ones you see in stores.
Silk Wine Gift Bag Dyed & Embellished
Create a beautifully dyed and decorated silk gift bag to add that personal touch to gifts of wine or champagne.
Citric Acid Powder
Stock# Product Details Quantity Dharma Price
#CIT
 1 lb
$4.25
#CIT
 5 lb
$18.95
#CIT
 50 lb
$134.95
= In Stock = Out Of Stock = Special Order = Drop Ship

PRODUCT REVIEWS
220 Reviews
: 
 (187)
Average Customer Review
Click here to add or update a review for this product.
: 
 (23)
: 
 (4)
: 
 (2)
: 
 (1)
MOST HELPFUL REVIEWS
2/23/2008
I am new to silk dyeing, but these dyes were very easy to use, not messy, and provided brilliant color and even saturation. (Was dyeing chiffon scarves for nuno felting.) Colors mixed well also. Would recommend to anyone!!!
Was this review helpful? 
26 of 27 users found this review helpful.
4/2/2008
So easy with very little to no wash out of excess wasted dye. I dyed some silk pajamas, a silk blouse, and silk scarves. All my dyeing came out even and in gorgeous colors. All I needed was an old enameled stock pot, some vinegar, and a new wooden paint stick. Easy. I used the #611 Vermillion for the pajamas - luscious woody raspberry color. Very happy with the results. Prewash the garment or fabric with synthrapol for best results.
Was this review helpful? 
25 of 25 users found this review helpful.
4/21/2008
Lovely dyes, very easy to use -- I've even done scarves with hot tap water in mason jars using this. The only con is that the colours come out a little light at times, especially on raw silk, but predying with grey or ecru to darken the fabric solves that.
Was this review helpful? 
21 of 21 users found this review helpful.
10/27/2008
Colors are easy to use, mix well when the shade I want isn't available, and work well to steam or handpaint. Acidity is key for getting the dyes to bond with the fabric, but washout happens in my silks, and some colors will run (RED), not with nylons tho. Colors are as shown on the website, DON'T go by the names.
Was this review helpful? 
18 of 18 users found this review helpful.
3/1/2011
The Scarlet Red, Yellow Sun and Brilliant Blue are great "true" colours for making any colour you can imagine! Easy and fun to use
Was this review helpful? 
11 of 12 users found this review helpful.
MOST RECENT REVIEWS
6/24/2011
I had a horrible experience with these dyes. Not so much that the dies didn't work, but that I was not informed that they didn't work on cotton. Be careful!
Was this review helpful? 
2 of 36 users found this review helpful.
3/19/2011
Dharma Trading Co. is the best. When I called to for info. they were extremely helpful and shipping is crazy fast!!!
Thanks....
Was this review helpful? 
4 of 5 users found this review helpful.
3/2/2011
I love Jacquard. It's the only dye I use on all my fibers. Dharma has the best prices I've been able to find.
Was this review helpful? 
7 of 7 users found this review helpful.
2/22/2011
Easy to use and very mixable.
Was this review helpful? 
1 of 2 users found this review helpful.
1/26/2011
Love these.
Was this review helpful? 
0 of 0 users found this review helpful.
1/15/2011
I am just beginning my journey with dyes. I dyed a bunch of swatches of fabrics in the washer to see what would happen, and I was delighted how brilliantly this dyed spandex and silk. Did not work on cotton (as expected, but sometimes you just need to see something to believe it).
Was this review helpful? 
3 of 3 users found this review helpful.
1/9/2011
I put it in the washer with the silk and washed. It came out great! The color was fabulous. I haven't washed the item yet, but it looks good.
Was this review helpful? 
2 of 2 users found this review helpful.
1/6/2011
Great dyes.
Was this review helpful? 
0 of 0 users found this review helpful.

 

If you'd rather speak with a human, please call toll-free from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada M-F 8am to 5pm PST
Phone: 800-542-5227

Copyright © 2013 Dharma Trading Co. All Rights Reserved.

Drag and Drop chips to the Palette first.