This is a great, easy method to dye your delicate fibers and avoid corrosive chemicals like soda ash that will compromise your silk and wool.

Using the vinegar and heat in this method will work for any natural fiber (wool, silk, cotton and rayon.)

Dying on silk and wool will cause different results.  The color tends to be a few shades lighter on wool and with silk the color shifts unpredictably if you are blending or mixing for a custom shade.

For 1 Lb Fabric/Fiber

• 1 - 5 tsp Dye (add for dye will tell you proper amount for good color)
• 3 - 9 tsp plain Salt
• 2/3 C Vinegar

1) Place 1 to 5 teaspoons (3-5 gm.) of dye (depending on the shade desired) into a one quart Pyrex measuring cup.  Add a small amount of cold water and work into a smooth paste with a stainless steel or plastic spoon. 
Add 1 cup of water at 140 degrees F (60 degrees C)  to this dye paste.  Stir well to dissolve all the dye and pour into the dye bath container (should be strainless steel, glass, or enamel, not aluminum of copper.)

2)  Dissolve 3 to 9 Tablespoons (180 - 270 gm.) of plain salt (depending on the intensity desired) in 2 cups of warm water and add to the dyebath.  Add the fabric.  Add enough water to cover the material plus a little extra to allow the yarn or fabric to move freely in the dyebath.

3)  Place the dyebath container on the stove and heat gradually to a simmer (just below boiling) and hold there for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.  Add 2/3 cup white vinegar and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Because of wools tendancy to felt, you must be sure to very slowly raise the tempurature and not let it reach a boil.  The bath must also have plenty of room for the wool to flow in the bath.  If it is rubbing a lot durring agitation, this will also cause felting.

4)  Remove from heat, rinse in hot tap water (again, no fast changes in temp.  The fiber, fabric should be slowly cooled down) and wash with Synthropol or textile detergent. Rinse until free of dye, gradually lowering the temperature of the rinse water to that of the room. 

Always remember ~ ~ ~ Dying is an art.  It is unpredictable at best.  Always double check your measurements and do a test batch if the shade and hue must be exact.