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Author Topic: Dyeing Sails  (Read 1759 times)

Metal mangler

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Dyeing Sails
« on: August 27, 2020, 11:18:54 am »

Nearly finished sewing the sails for Loise Heloise and now looking to dye them. I think they should look similar to a Thames Barge but all I can find on the Internet are red or burgundy which look very bright.
Can anyone suggest a make and colour of dye that gives a typical old fishing boat sail colour that they have used successfully.
Thanks
Dave.
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Big Ada

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Re: Dyeing Sails
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2020, 04:48:25 pm »

When I Dyed my Barge Sails I used Dylon = Terracotta, Heated up in an old Saucepan I seem to remember.
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Metal mangler

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Re: Dyeing Sails
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2020, 08:47:20 pm »

Thanks Ada, looks great but just my luck they have discontinued terracotta.
The search continues,
Dave.
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Footski

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Re: Dyeing Sails
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2020, 09:25:41 pm »

Why do you need a colour? Sails were, in their original colour an off white. Colours were more expensive so most vessels stayed traditional. If you do this, use a tea bag and boiling water or the dregs from a milk less coffee to stain the sails.
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RST

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Re: Dyeing Sails
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2020, 09:52:25 pm »

I held-off until the first person mentioned tea!  It's a long time since I did it but it worked back then and still see it mentioned so why not try it?  Any scraps you can try on?
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tigertiger

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Re: Dyeing Sails
« Reply #5 on: August 29, 2020, 02:05:10 am »

Why do you need a colour? Sails were, in their original colour an off white. Colours were more expensive so most vessels stayed traditional. If you do this, use a tea bag and boiling water or the dregs from a milk less coffee to stain the sails.


Some sails were treated with tannin or Stockholm tar, to help protect them from the elements. I cannot find a reference now, but I think I read somewhere, a few years ago, that some sails were treated with animal waste, that was brushed onto the sail material. They were not dyed as such, but stained by the weatherproofing.
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