Dyeing milkweed

[Forestryguy]

Has anyone had luck dyeing milkweed silk? I am good with the natural color till there is snow on the ground.

 

[150plusB&C]

Following. I’m curious


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[Sadie]

Light mist rattle can paint. Walnut media in case tumbler might give you enough color.

 

[Macintosh]

Makes perfect sense, but never even thought to try. Wonder if something like a sharpie would work? Tedious applying it, but??

 

[Erict]

For $2.99, I'd try this. Many color options, though they cost a bit more:

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[Forestryguy]

I have thought about the rite dye. Just wasn’t sure if the silk would take it up and hold the color. I will have to give it a try.

I would think painting it would add to much weight and it would not be as effective.

 

[Blackcow]

I figured since I have a lifetime supply of mw pods I’d see if they would dye like fletching. I wasn’t sure how long the homemade mix would take to soak into the pod, so I split one and took out the fluff.
I boiled 1 cup of water in the microwave and dumped it into my dyeing vat, also known as one of my wife’s stainless mixing bowls. I added mmmmaybe 1/4 cup of vinegar( for the acid) and Flo orange food coloring. I just kept adding food coloring till it looked orange enough. Walmart had the gel Flo food coloring, but red and yellow gel would do the same thing.
Stir it, let it sit, come back and stir it again. The fluff always kinda floats, but whatever. Altogether I let it soak for maybe three hours, stirring it here and there. I put a coffee filter over the sink drain and poured it into, kinda slow. Same thing I do for feathers. Let the “ dye” drain down the sink and much as you can. Then gathered up the fluff and folded in a paper towel and patted as much moisture out as I could( orange fingers here) then moved it to the middle of a couple more paper towels and folded them up. Took them outside and sat a brick on the edge of the paper towel fold to keep them from blowing away. Now I’m waiting for them to dry, and see how they look/work. Fairly simple. I see white ones pretty well, so not sure of the benefit…..