Need help filling out this form?

Use the information below to help you fill out this form to create your custom color recipe.

RGB Values

The calculator on this page uses the RGB color values to determine the correct ratio of dyes to mix to achieve an approximate color match. The “RGB” stands for RED, GREEN, and BLUE.

You will always see the numbers arranged in the (R, G, B) order. For example, in rgb(255, 102, 204): R = 255, G = 102, B = 204

You can easily find the RGB value of a color using online tools. Here are some resources you can use to find your color values:

• HTML Color Picker
• Adobe Color
• Image Color Picker
• Palette Creator

Please note: Mixing physical dye based on a digital color on your computer monitor or mobile device screen will only be a close or approximate match. When mixed properly, you should get a close representation of your color, but it will never be a perfect match, mostly due to variations in monitor and screen calibrations, the brightness of your screen, imperfections with mixing your recipe, and so on. It’s a good idea to create some test swatches with mini yarn skeins before committing to a larger project.

Yarn Information

The amount of yarn you want to dye is necessary to calculate the amount of dye for each color recipe properly. Here, you will enter the full weight of the yarn in grams plus the percentage of the yarn you will be dying.

Here are some examples:

• Example #1: If you are dying one 100-gram skein of yarn in one color, you will enter “100” in the first field and “100” in the second field.
• Example #2: If you are dying one 100-gram skein of yarn in two colors, you will enter “100” in the first field and “50” in the second field for each color you want to use.
• Example #3: If you are dying three 100-gram skeins of yarn in four colors, you will enter “300” in the first field and “25” in the second field for each color you want to use.

How to mix a 1% dye solution:

The calculator on this page will give you grams of dye from a 1% dye solution. Here’s how to mix a 1% dye solution:

Materials:

• N95 mask or respirator
• Nitrile gloves
• Digital scale (capable of measuring grams)
• Jacquard dye powder (Turquoise, Hot Fuchsia, Sun Yellow, and Jet Black)
• Small plastic cup
• Hot tap water
• Small mixing spoon or utensil
• Measuring cup (with milliliter markings)
• Mason jar or container for the dye

Note: All materials used for dying should be dedicated to dying and should NOT be used for food.

Steps:

1. First, make sure you are wearing an N95 mask (or respirator) and nitrile gloves when handling the dry dye powder.
2. Cover your work surface with plastic wrap or a disposable covering to protect any work surfaces (especially if you are mixing your dye in the kitchen).
3. Set a small plastic cup on the digital scale and tare the scale so it reads zero.
4. Measure the total amount of dye you want to mix on the scale. The ratio of mixing dye is 1 gram of dry dye per 100 ml of water.
5. Measure the total amount of hot water you need to mix your dye in the measuring cup.
6. Pour a small amount of hot water from the measuring cup into the plastic cup and mix it to form a thick paste. Continue adding water until the dye is liquid and pourable.
7. Pour the dye liquid from the plastic cup into your container (I like to use mason jars), and then pour the remaining water from the measuring cup into the jar until the dye is mixed thoroughly.

You now have a 1% dye solution to use for your recipes!

How much water do I need?

The amount of water you use will depend on the method of dying and your container size. The water is the means to “move” the dye to the yarn and allow it to disperse evenly across the yarn. There is no specific amount of water you need to use when using this dye recipe, but here are some general guidelines:

• Immersion dying: Use enough water into the container so that the yarn can move freely and does not crowd the yarn, but also allows the dye to reach the yarn without getting pooled in any one area. The acid added to the water will help strike (or attach) the dye to the yarn, and in a perfect world, the dye pot water will be clear, although you may still see some color in your water after you finish the dying process.
• Hand painting: There is no specific amount of water to add to each dye solution. Mix enough water to paint, squeeze, or pour the dye over the percentage of yarn you mixed your dye color for. The water will help the dye absorb into the yarn but will not affect the color or saturation of the overall color.

Jacquard Acid Dyes:

The dyes used in this recipe calculator are based on four Jacquard acid dyes:

• Turquoise (for the Cyan color)
• Hot Fuchsia (for the Magenta color)
• Sun Yellow (for the Yellow color)
• Jet Black (for the Black color)

You can purchase the colors individually, or you can purchase them as a set that includes all four dyes plus a 1-lb bag of citric acid.