Drink-Mix Dye Add the feathers, swishing them around a bit in the liquid. Remove them when they appear slightly darker than the desired color, then rinse, setting them on top of paper towels to dry.
Instructions to Dye Feathers:
Create a custom colour or use 2 tablespoons of chosen dye with 2-4 cups of the hottest water, mix well and add to container (you may want to test the dye colour on a paper towel) Immerse feathers in dye bath so they are covered with dye (this does not apply for ombre dipping method)
Acid dyes are one of the best for dyeing natural fly tying material such as hackle feathers. Acid dyes sound scary but they are safe to use and are so named for the mild acid (such as vinegar or citric acid) used in the dyeing process.
Painting feathers is a fun and easy craft activity. They are fun to create and you will be left with a beautiful collection of feathers to display. You can choose to paint your feathers with watercolors or acrylic paint.
Mix 1/4 cup liquid dye or 1 tablespoon powdered dye per quart of hot—not boiling—water, stirring to blend the ingredients thoroughly. Place the feathers into the dye bath, pushing them down with a plastic fork or spoon to ensure the dye covers each feather.
Dyeing Feathers ~ DYEING FEATHERS It is quite easy to dye feathers, you just have to use not-to-harsh chemicals so that you do not destroy the feathers. Mix 2 teaspoons Rit Dye(or) Kool Aid, 1 teaspoon vinegar ,and a pinch of salt in 3/4 cup of warm water.
If you need to dye feathers for a costume or craft project, you can easily do so using fabric dye, food coloring, or even powdered drink mix. Simply mix the color bath in a bowl and submerge the feathers. Leave them in until they reach the desired shade, then take the feathers out of the color bath and rinse them out.
This is a quick and safe way to learn how to dye feathers with watercolor (video included). Using only paint, you can create subtle hues or vibrant colors and use these painted feathers in decor, crafts, costumes, and cosplay!
We brewed ours at double strength for extra dye power, and poured the super-strong coffee into a wide baking dish to give us plenty of room. Make sure to let the coffee cool before you begin – there's a bit of mixing involved, so unless you use a tool to mix them around you'll want it to be a nice cool temperature.
I know that bird's feathers (and beak) can be dyed on a temporary basis e.g. when eating food that is highly coloured such as berries or beetroot or carrot. They can also get temporarily stained if they brush against toys that have been dyed with water-soluble vegetable dyes.
Use a very light hand when applying paint. You should be layering paint on the surface, not dragging paint through the quills. Keep the direction of the feather quills in mind and try to flow with them; painting too roughly against the grain can cause breakage and damage of the feather.
Step 1: Thin down the Acrylic Paint
It's essential to use an acrylic medium; water or rubbing alcohol can thin down the paint, but it will cause the paint to seep through the fabric. You can use two kinds of mediums for light-colored and dark-colored fabrics.