Welcome Back
Today I’ll show you how I colour my linen thread for bookbinding. If the pictures look a bit odd, it is because I am taking the picture with one hand and showing the process with the other. I need a camera man.
I haven’t taken a picture of the reel of thread but if asked will post a link to the type I have.
This is the ink I use
1. As ever my ink of choice is Ranger’s Adirondack dye based ink. I use this purely as it works and it is the product I have most colours of.
Cut n Dry Foam
2. This is a side view of a piece of Ranger’s Cut ‘n’ Dry foam. http://www.rangerink.com/cut_n_dry.htm
Lay Thread on the ink pad
3. Having cut a piece of thread to the length you require, lay the thread across the ink pad.
4. (I am having to take my own pic)With one hand press down on the foam with one hand, and with the other, pull the thread slowly through (under the foam) and out the other side. Repeat this until you have a colour tone that you like.
5. A light application of ink will give you a thread with a mottled tone.
The coloured thread
6. You will need to enlarge this picture to see but, with a few more swipes the thread can be coloured to give a full colour.
Wax your thread after colouring to seal in the dye
7. The ink is a water based dye, so you will need to seal the colour in using bees wax.
I will post a how to wax your thread tutorial as soon as I can blag a camera man. It will look mad unless you can see two hands for that process. (This picture does show uncoloured thread being waxed! The colour hadn’t come off!)
Best wishes and thanks for reading
Billie 
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