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A easy way to get colored string or pearl cotton is to simply paint it.
Arrange the white or light colored thread in a shallow dish. I use recycled veggie trays. Perfect!
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Drop diluted highly pigmented liquid paint like Golden Fluid acrylics in spots on loosely arranged threads. I also use the very liquid paints like Seta Silk or Dye-na-flow. If you use a lightly colored thread, the color of the unpainted thread will affect the final color.
For example, you can find these on Dharma Trading Company- https://www.dharmatrading.com/paints/kits/dye-na-flow-starter-set.html
or
https://www.dharmatrading.com/paints/discontinued-setasilk-silk-paint-2.html
but there are plenty of other sources.
As well as pearl cotton, I use a spool of extremely strong string I found in an antique store.
Wind into a ball of the dried thread so it doesn't tangle or wind onto stick.
Allow the string to set as to dry. Once it's been dry for a couple days, it is permanent. I always test to be sure before using in a project.
I love the variegated results at a faction of the cost of commercial brands! Plus you can mix you own custom colors. Satisfying!
More ideas in my book- http://tinyurl.com/z7jcb2e.
Work may be available on UpLIFTMeNTs.
follow me on Instagram- Wen Redmond (@wenredmond) • Instagram photos and videos
Website- http://www.wenredmond.com/