Dyeing is the coloring of fabric, yarns or fibers. A number of terms refer to dyeing processes.
Piece dying is the application of dye to a woven fabric. Dip dyeing is the dyeing of knit fabric, items or hosiery.
Stock dyeing is the coloring of fibers before they are processed into yarn—the origin of the expression “dyed in the wool.” Wool in particular is dyed this way, and often the colored wool fibers are blended with uncolored fibers to create a heather effect. Yarn dyeing is the coloring of yarns before they are woven or knit. If more than one color is applied to the yarns at seemingly random intervals, they are called space dyed.
If a resist agent is applied to some yarns before piece dyeing, those treated yarns will not take dye (the agent is later removed in washing). This is called resist dyeing. Cross dyeing involves the dyeing of fabric or yarn composed of two or more fibers, each taking dye differently.