Have you ever tried dyeing your own silk cord?

I have dabbled here and there with dyeing. Never really been that good at it. Or had the patience or the space to get "messed up". That is until I discovered Colorhue dyes. They are an instant set silk dye that does not need heat setting. You can actually dye small thing in a teacup. In the doll worlds it used to be called Dyeing in a Teacup. I have been busy today doing things I have been putting off for over a year. Hubby took kids fishing for a few hours so I started dyeing. Dyeing and kids generally don't mix!! So I always seem put it off. It started when I bought this silk fabric with these great little teeny weenie diamonds woven in. When I got it the color was awful..I thought I was getting eggshell and it was a dull gray beige. REALLY dull and yucky. So I cut of a few yards of it, tossed it in the kitchen sink for dyeing. I had nothing to loose as I already lost out by buying it. I used the Colorhue dyes to dye up a batch in pink. Because Colorhue dyes are transparent they did not completely cover the gray/beige. So I got this wonderful rose color. After such great results I called up and ordered 10 more yards of that awful fabric. That 10 yards has been sitting on my table for year WAITING for time and inspiration to dye more. I figured since I was alone for a few hours and it is a HOLIDAY I could "waste" a bit of time doing something I never have time for. I am THRILLED. The colors I got are fabulous.
I got a sage green, an amethyst and a powder dusty blue along with the dusty rose. They are so vintage-y. Just like you got them out of Grandmas trunk.
So I was further inspired to edge dye some ribbon...another project I have put off for months. I took some of the bias cut dupioni silk ribbon and rolled it up. I tried it on white, lavender and the cameo color. I am really pleased with the results. I see the possibilities. Now I wish I had more time to DYE!
Marlene Glickman who is a EXPERT dyer made this suggestion in her last newsletter.

Helpful Hints

Dyeing small bits of silk in various shades and using various techniques to imprint a design on the bits of silk requires a lot less dye for these small pieces of silk compared to a silk scarf.

Easy baggie method; add all five pieces of silk cut in 6 inch squares or smaller to a baggie. Mix 1 pipette of dye in 4 ounces of water. Pour some of this light colored dye into the baggie. Squeeze and let go until water goes clear. Remove one piece of silk. Add more drops of concentrate to your dye water and pour 1/2 ounce of dye mix into the baggie. Repeat squeezing and remove another piece of silk. Repeat for the remaining pieces of silk adding a few more drops of concentrated dye to the dye water each time to make the color darker. You can also add a touch of black to tone it down. Lay out dyed silk pieces on the table.
Tabletop techniques:
Place a stencil or silk leaf over one piece of silk and spray or sponge the dye onto the silk.
Scrunch up another piece of silk and spray the scrunches
Pull the silk into casual pleats. They will hold if the silk is wet enough. Spray the tops of the pleats.
Draw on the silk using a pipette filled with dye water
Fold silk in half and in half again. Clamp with a few clothespins. Pipette dye around the pins on both sides of the fabric. Remove pins. Squeeze in a baggie until water goes clear.
Roll all the silk pieces in a towel and iron dry. They are now ready to use in your collage work.

Now you have no excuse to not dye your own silk cord. I have white ready to dye cord and the Colorhue Dye on my supply site TandZSupplies on Etsy Or my fabric and trims site: minidolls.com. BUT if you really don't want to even give it a try I have a bunch of already hand dyed silk cord just waiting on my TandZSupplies on Etsy: Silk Cord Section.
My next plan is to over dye some silk cords.....adding some mottled colorings.