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Are you interested in dyeing your handspun yarn or fiber but need some beginner resources to help you follow along? We’ve gathered a few of our favorite resources to help you get started.
Spin Off Editorial Staff2 min read
If you’re new to dyeing, it might be difficult to determine where to start, but learning how to dye your own yarn and fiber is easier than you might think. Here, we’ve gathered a few of our favorite resources to help you get started. Dyeing is fun to do and a wonderful way to experiment, whether you’re a beginner or a more seasoned spinner. As color expert Deb Menz says, dyeing your own yarn and fiber will yield a unique collection of yarns that aren’t available commercially.
There are different ways to approach natural dyes. Perhaps you are a forager, seeking color from yard waste, roadside plants, kitchen scraps, and even your spice cabinet. Or maybe you are interested in ancient dyes from around the globe, such as indigo, madder, cochineal, and more. Most dyers do a bit of both, and we have resources to get you started.
From left: Dip your toe into natural dyeing as these authors have done with solar dyeing, marigolds and other plant material, and black walnut hulls. Photo credits (left to right): Sylvia McFadden, Martha Owen, and Devin Helmen
Synthetic dyes, which include acid dyes for protein fibers and fiber-reactive dyes for cellulose, can create any color you can imagine with some practice. Find tips for immersion dyeing, resist dyeing, solar dyeing, and more using these resources.
Synthetic dyes can yield vibrant colors on protein and cellulose fibers. Photo credits: (clockwise, from top left) Kim McKenna, Sukrita Mahon, Matt Graves, and Dyeing in the Kitchen with Deb Menz by Long Thread Media
These authors cover the safety precautions you need to take to protect yourself and the environment. Dive into the basics of hand-dyeing yarn and fiber and create the colors you crave.
Also, remember that if you are an active subscriber to Spin Off magazine, you have unlimited access to previous issues, including those mentioned here. See our help center for the step-by-step process on how to access them.
Originally published February 22, 2024, updated October 31, 2025
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