Dying Sisal Rope

Sisal rope is a great versatile modelling material, the main application within model farming is as straw, either loose or baled. But it can also be effectively used as vegetation to add life to a diorama. In either case its natural colour isn't quite right for purpose and so we need to dye it. I suspect there are various methods for dying it but I will just demonstrate one that I know works.

What do you need? Some sisal, chopped, a mixing pot, and some paint. In this case for speed I'm just using some acrylic deep yellow to make a straw colour. For more accurate colours mix up your own pallet. I'm using acrylic as it is fast drying and can be watered down but any paint should work.

I start by adding a drop of paint to the side of the tub.

Then scoop the paint up with a clump of sisal.

Rub the sisal between your fingers and thumb to move the paint around, if you are struggling to spread the paint wet you hand with water and continue, this thins the paint down making it spread easier.

Thoroughly spread the paint so the sisal is all pretty much the same colour. It is now died and read to use. If you are making bales it is great to make the bale out if the sisal while its still wet, as it dries the paint will hold the sisal as well as the twine making the bale less prone to splitting.

The dyed sisal compared with the natural rope colour.

The light colour of sisal means it lends itself to dying any colour, here yellow, green and brown have been made.