ACHIEVING FLESH COLOR IN FELT
DOLLS
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Posts sent to feltmakers list about "flesh
color":
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 18:51:57 EST
From: Craftcris@aol.com (Chris)
A long time ago somebody posted the recipe for achieving a fleshtone when
dyeing wool. What colors do I mix again?
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 1998 16:17:16 -0800
From: spark@PEAK.ORG (Pat Spark)
Chris, I am sure that the dye bath would be different depending on the type
of flesh color you are seeking. For instance, Northern European Blond would
be different than Southern Mediteranean Brunette.
I usually don't dye these color directly, but blend them with my hand cards.
I have a variety of beiges, yellows, pinks and browns I card together to
get the colors I want. I also use tea and coffee to get some of my browns
and beiges. Since these dyes have tannic acid in them, and wool has an affinity
for acid, I haven't had any problems with them. Apple bark and walnut hulls
also give browns.
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1998 21:45:21 -0600
From: woolshed@juno.com (Jill Gully)
Chris, I carry a beige merino as well as a pastel pink and a pastel apricot.
These may help you achieve a good fleshtone.
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 16:38:39 -0700
From: Sharon Costello & John Arrighi
<springhollow@earthlink.net>
Debbie asks: What is your source for flesh colored wool? Are you dyeing it
yourself, if so, what colors are you using to achieve the flesh tones?
Debbie, Wilde Wools out of Philadelphia makes a perfect flesh color. It's
a romney cross and works quite well for dry needle felting, but if you are
used to merino you might find it a bit hairy. They also make a color perfect
for rosey cheeks, etc. I think its called red rock, but my computer is at
home and my fiber stuff at my studio, so if you want more details it will
have to wait.
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 15:23:26 -0700
From: Lynn/Ken <kamco@ricochet.net>
Whose flesh? Anglo flesh, or do they have all flesh colors? I'd really
appreciate finding non-Anglo flesh
colors.
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 1999 22:40:29 -0700
From: Sharon Costello & John Arrighi
<springhollow@earthlink.net>
Lynn, Wilde Wool makes a gold, chestnut, flesh and red rock that can be blended
to get all kinds of skin colors.
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 1999 18:55:51 EDT
From: Mariskra@aol.com
Lynn & others interested in Wilde's NZ romney for flesh tones -- Wilde's
"flesh" is pinky flesh colored but they also have a natural brown, a natural
fawn and a dyed "chestnut". Used singly or mixed in combination, they'll
give you quite a few different skin tones. Address is: Wilde Yarns, 3737
Main St. Box 4662, Philadelphia, PA 19127-0662. Phone - 215-482-8800.
Carded wool samples are $1.50.
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 15:00:56 -0800
From: Joi Cardinal <zappchik@pacbell.net>
I'm interested in what others use for flesh tones. I've had the best luck
with combining Jacquard Dye, chestnut and hot fuschia, leaving the wool in
the dye bath only a very short time. Varying the proportions of these two
leads to a wide variety of skin tones.
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 18:15:00 -0600
From: bhstudio@frontiernet.net
What amount of dye in what volume of water? I have tried some ProcionMX combos
like soft pink and camel and it was was too sad; sort of dirty, rather than
flesh of any variety. Acid dye makes more sense, because you don't have to
go thru the base-acid change, which takes
longer.
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 16:45:50 -0800
From: Joi Cardinal <zappchik@pacbell.net>
Rikki -In very unscientific terms -- a lot of water (I use a 4-quart stock
pot for dying) and very little of each dye powder, probably less than 1/8
teaspoon, mixed very well. I don't let the wool sit in the dye bath; instead
I just dip the roving in until I get the shade I want. When the wool dries,
if it's not the shade I want, I dip it some more. Once I left some dye in
the chestnut/fuschia mix; it came out very dark, looked very much like a
fox pelt.
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 20:24:14 -0500
From: "Altobelli" <altobelli@aztec-net.com>
I do my own dyeing with weak acid stock solutions I make up at a 2% strength.
For flesh tones, I prepare 30 ml. of Crimson, 30 ml. of Lemon Yellow and
1 ml of Turquoise (these are CIBA-like dyes). For at least 300 g. of roving
I would start out by using about 3 ml. of this dye. You can always add more,
but you would have to blend with white to get lighter flesh tones. This worked
out very well. Very fleshy.
From: " goldenfleece"
<goldenfleece@gorge.net>
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 19:04:53 -0800
For a good "suntan" skintone, I have been using tea and a little cider vinegar.
The vinegar might not be necessary as tea has tannic acid in it for a mordant.
Boil enough water to cover project and add 2 - several teabags, swishing
them around until the water is dark enough, remove bags and add about 2 Tblspns
to 1/4 cider vinegar. (This isn't very scientific) Then soak the wool until
it looks a little darker than you want because some is going to wash out.
It doesn't take very long. I have thought of adding a little bit of red dye
(I've been using Procion) to get a rosier skin tone, but haven't tried it
yet. Pam in WA.
From: "Sherry Konya" <skonya@netnitco.net>
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 08:20:44 -0600
I also use the tea but with white vinegar. Sometimes I add a little instant
coffee too if I want a little darker skin tone. Works well for
me.
From: ASculptor2@aol.com (Amy)
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 13:52:35 EST
I use two bags of regular tea and one bag of Celestial Seasonings Red
Zinger....great peachier tones, but watch out not to leave it in too long...the
red gets redder!
From: Perrilgs@aol.com (Leslie)
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 19:16:51 EST
Amy, Are these color- and/or light- fast
then?
From: ASculptor2@aol.com (Amy)
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 19:36:16 EST
Leslie, I used the tea bath to dye a small doll I made for my two year old...she
named it Thomas Dolly and has had it only a few months, so I don't know how
lightfast it will be... He still looks great and I know he has spent a lot
of time in the sunny living room...no fading so far. I am an experimental
dyer and rarely write anything down, I am sorry to say. Well, just typing
that made me want to keep better records, ha!
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