Colouring Horsehair?

[DNicolson]

I was raking around in my materials and found a package of horsehair.
It says white on the label, more a dirty off-white. I got the idea of colouring
it with my fibre pens. Has anyone got any ideas on how horsehair takes to
dyeing or colouring with pens? I don't have a lot and I don't want to waste
it on pointless experimentation.

[Mike Connor]

I was raking around in my materials and found a package of horsehair.
It says white on the label, more a dirty off-white. I got the idea of colouring
it with my fibre pens. Has anyone got any ideas on how horsehair takes to
dyeing or colouring with pens? I don't have a lot and I don't want to waste
it on pointless experimentation.

It dyes well, and with the right spirit based dye markers just as well as hot dyeing. As with most materials, slightly "off" or "dirty" colours wont dye up as brightly as pure white ( Which is actually very translucent really). You need to clean it really well. Wash in warm soapy water ( Fairy or similar pure soap liquid), and rinse thoroughly. Allow to dry, ( it takes a while because it does soak up water, especially warm water, quickly), and then use your pens.

You can also bleach it if you really need to, but this weakens the hair.

The spirit based markers are better than the water based, although these will work, but will fade more quickly.

These are spirit based; http://www.homecrafts.co.uk/products-Ci ... _P370A.htm usually the base used is somewhere on the marker.

Regards and tight lines!

Mike

[DNicolson]

Thanks Mike,
Just the info I needed. My marker are spirit based, so they should be OK.
The washing tip will be a big help. TTFN

[willowhead]

Glad your back Mike.