/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>>7612498

http://www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/jacquard-acid-dyes.html

If you want to color feathers like this, you want to use acid dye. It's the only thing that will color the spines of the feathers (RIT will dye the feather part but the spines will stay white).

Use a big pot and do it on the stove. Boil the dye according to the instructions, then turn the heat off and put the feathers in (test first, they may curl up if the water is too hot!). Don't stir them or you'll break the fibers! I used a pair of tongs to gently swish them back and forth. You'll need to experiment to see how long to leave them in (the longer, the more vivid the color) and if the dye bath gets too cool you may want to turn the heat on low for a bit to heat it back up. Take them out when you've got the color you want and swish them in a water/vinegar mix to set the dye and then lay them out to dry! You can reshape them with your fingers after they're dry. Make sure you lay them on paper towels or newspaper or they may stain the surface you leave them on.

It's pretty easy but it smells awful. They'll be a little lighter once they're dry so you may want to use a hairdryer to speed the process when testing the color. Obviously works best with white feathers.