Coloring rawhide

[rgerbitz]

How do you all color your rawhide strings? What do you use, what would you never use again?

Thank you for your time.

Rob

[Opagon]

Hi Rob,

Coloring rawhide is hard.... It doesnt like to hold the pigment. So get ready for alot of string that is not colored they way you where hoping.

After searching everywhere that I could think of for clues and coming up empty handing I started to do some experimenting. I have no idea if the ways that I am dying my rawhide are the "correct" method or not. I started at; Rawhide is a natural product, what stains my hands the most and for the longest? My List: Balck walnuts - Food Dye - Mulberrys - Fabric dye Then I started soaking.

For browns I am using a coffee soak of standing stick 2nd day quaility or Balck Walnut juice (My yard is littered with them in the fall). Be careful as to what you dress it with during and after braiding as the color seems to fade. I usually do an very light coat of Rawhide cream.

I am still playing with other colors - Food dyes are seeming to hold up well. I doubled checked a piece from a year ago and it seems to be the same. I am going to try fabric dye on the next lot.

Let me know how your experiments go,

Heather