Dyeing wool seems like such a daunting task. It's really not as hard as you might think and it opens up an amazing new colorful world for your projects. These seven tips will get you started.

1. Relax. Deep breathe. Dyeing wool is not really difficult. You will not ruin your wool. The first step is to stop being intimidated and just take the plunge into coloring.

2. Don't try to achieve an exact color when you start dyeing wool. That way you have no expectations and won't be disappointed with the final color.

3. Be sure and assemble ALL needed equipment and wool BEFORE you start dyeing wool. This will speed things along and be less frustrating for you.

4. Use the correct type of dye for wool. Acid dyes work best on protein (animal) fibers. Don't let the name scare you. Acid dyes are not usually caustic. Food coloring is an acid dye. I like to use one shot dyes for coloring wool. I don't have to mix anything. You just put it in boiling water and away you go. So far the dyes seem to work great!

5. Dying wool takes a little time. I dedicate a whole day to the process so I only have to set-up once. That way I can make lots of projects before I have to dye my fiber again. It's wonderful to have a lot of colors on hand to grab when a project idea hits you.

6. Dye in smaller batches when you are first learning to color fiber. After you get the hang of dyeing wool, you can dye larger amounts. Smaller amounts are much easier to handle. If you don't like the color you make, then you are not stuck with a whole lot of a color that you just don't think you can use.

7. Start with just a few colors. Yellow, blue, red, and black are perfect. Using your primary colors, you can mix up other colors without having to have a lot of dyes on hand. Black is just a great color to have around This will be a little cheaper to begin dyeing. You can experiment making different colors, too, when you have to mix. Just write down the amount of dye used so you can reproduce it if you really like it.

These 7 tips should help you jump start your wool dyeing experience. You will be so excited to make new projects with your hand dyed newly colored fiber. Dyeing wool is fun. Take a deep breath and color your world.