Doin A Bit Of Dying Lace.

[KnotHead]

For those of you who are familiar with my works, you know that I pretty much work with just Kangaroo Hides. But last night I got an itch. I have been staring at the Argentine works for the longest time. I decided to take some of the horse hide lace I have here and dye it using two different methods, or techniques.

1. Rusty Nails in a can.
2. Coffee Mud mixed in a can.

I have inserted a photo of the 2nd one because it worked much, much faster than the 1st method did. As a matter of fact the lace in the first method is still soaking after 4 days with not much notable difference. I think I like the coffee mud much better. I feel though that if I had left that lace in there much longer it would have turned black. LOL...

Here's the photo of the second method used.

In the photo above you can see the difference between the undyed horse hide and the dyed. Very noticeable.

Thanks for letting me share my findings.

B...

Edited March 29, 2011 by KnotHead

[FlatHats]

For those of you who are familiar with my works, you know that I pretty much work with just Kangaroo Hides. But last night I got an itch. I have been staring at the Argentine works for the longest time. I decided to take some of the horse hide lace I have here and dye it using two different methods, or techniques.

1. Rusty Nails in a can.
2. Coffee Mud mixed in a can.

I have inserted a photo of the 2nd one because it worked much, much faster than the 1st method did. As a matter of fact the lace in the first method is still soaking after 4 days with not much notable difference. I think I like the coffee mud much better. I feel though that if I had left that lace in there much longer it would have turned black. LOL...

Here's the photo of the second method used.

In the photo above you can see the difference between the undyed horse hide and the dyed. Very noticeable.

Thanks for letting me share my findings.

B...

Useful info...Thinkin about contrasing alternating buttons on a project....

Thanks,

Trav

[KnotHead]

No prob.

B...

[KnotHead]

The final results are now known for me anyway on the 2 techniques used. In the inserted photo.

From left to right,

1. Coffee Color.

2. Natural - The way it came.

3. Soaked for 4 days in a bucket of Rusty nails.

The next technique to try is Tea with Pecans. Suggested by a colleague Enrique Capone.

B...

Edited March 30, 2011 by KnotHead

[Spence]

Great info Brian. Since I drink a pot of coffee daily, how about sharing how you mix up the mud? Is it as simple as using old grounds?

[roo4u]

knothead...did you use anything else in the water with the rusty nails? im thinking about trying the vinegaroon to get some black rawhide. i would also like to try the beets to get a nice red like i have seen in the argentine rawhide needlework.

[KnotHead]

Great info Brian. Since I drink a pot of coffee daily, how about sharing how you mix up the mud? Is it as simple as using old grounds?

I did not use old coffee grounds. I used some stale coffee grounds that had been sittin around since last year. I did not like the coffee much and left it settin. LOL...

This is how I mixed the mud. I have a 1lb coffee can. Either metal or the plastic ones, makes no difference. I ran my water from the facet till it got hot and fill my can up about a 1/4 full. Then I added the coffee grounds to the water until I got a muddy type consistency. Then I put my lace in the can with the mud and let it set over night. That's all there is to it.

knothead...did you use anything else in the water with the rusty nails? im thinking about trying the vinegaroon to get some black rawhide. i would also like to try the beets to get a nice red like i have seen in the argentine rawhide needlework.

I did not use anything else in the rusty nail dye. Just rusty nails. Even rivets work really well for making rust. It's just the water and the metal and that's it. I am going to try out a metal type scratch pad that is used in a kitchen next to make some rust. Some one said that it makes a good rust and does it quick.

I never thought of beets to make a red dye. I will have to try that out also. I would like to get a good red also.

Thanks for all the kind comments also.

B...

Edited March 30, 2011 by KnotHead

[roo4u]

dang....i wish i drank coffee so i could try that...may have to buy some just so i can...thats a really nice color. .can i ask where you got the horse rawhide? i would love to try some....

[KnotHead]

My friend Jorge got it from a guy not too far from where I live. He only has a phone number that I know of. I will have to ask Jorge again what the name of this persons business is so I can get the phone number. There's also a place called Centralia Fur and Hide. Just give that name a google and their site should come up in the list. They have horse hide also.

Centralia Fur and Hide - These guys are about 2hrs drive south for me. So they are pretty much a local store. I do not know how well their quality is. The hide I am using was bought at the place that is closer to me.

You don't have to drink coffee to make the mud. Just buy a half pound of it somewhere dirt cheap and then make your mud. LOL...

B...

Edited March 30, 2011 by KnotHead

[8KCAB]

I am going to try dying with a skid-row merlot when I get to that piont. I figured the old Californios must've had some vino from the Padres.