Playsilks - Page 5

[KathinJapan]

Hi we ended up making a light green silk to line the basket of colored eggs.
DD1 liked helping with the dying, so I am going to put a white silk and a package of kool-aid in her Easter egg.

For those still ordering, we have the squares and some of the long thin ones, like winter scarves. Those are also really nice, DD1 uses them to make a sling for her dolly, wraps around her head like a pirate, ties around her waist she pretends they are a river, road, sky etc.. I think it is fun to have different sizes/shapes.

love, love playsilks
kathryn

[runes]

i just experimented with some kool ade dying for the first time.

it's SOOOOOO easy, and they come out great!

our local grocery store only had a few colors, so we only got to do purple (grape), orange (orange ), yellow (lemonade), red (pink lemonade), and a true deep red (cherry). a few are outside drying right now, and they look fantastic. i just need to get myself to another grocery store so that i can complete the rainbow with some blues and greens.

i highly recommend doing this, they come out awesome for a fraction of the cost of buying them already pre-colored.

i have also been experimenting with the setasilk paint as a dye, and i've made a few fun tie-dye playsilks that i've given away to 2 toddlers as their 1 year birthday gift. THEY LOVE THEM, and the parents were blown away that they were hand dyed. these make a wonderful gift, very different and very personalized.

next project? wilton dyes.

[KathinJapan]

I just looked at the kool-aid my mom brought from the states, one of the packages is a clear, cherry flavor but no color

I guess some people actually drink this suff.

my Japanese SIL and nices were shocked that this was a drink, I gave them a few blanks and packages of kool-aid, they had fun and were amazed at how quickly the silk absorbed the color.
Kathryn

[Think of Winter]

My friend and I just bought a bunch of silks and are trying to figure out the best way to do this. I have a few questions...

We have 3 yr olds who like to be hands on. We really want it to be a fun afternoon for everyone. I can keep them out of the hot water, but past that I'm more likely to let em at it. Is this too messy for two 3yr olds?

Does the stovetop method work better than the microwave? Microwave seems safer and quicker.

I have these soap making dyes http://www.soapwizards.com/tek9.asp?...cific=jnrngmi0 already that I want to try. Has anyone tried something similar? I assume it will work as long as I add vinegar.

We have talked about sacrificing one of our silks to use as a tester in the colors, but I have a yd of raw silk too that I'd be happier about cutting in to. Is it worth doing testers? I guess I'm more inclined to just go for it, but my friend is a little more cautious.

Thanks for all the lovely pictures!

[Flor]

Originally Posted by colleen95

My friend and I just bought a bunch of silks and are trying to figure out the best way to do this. I have a few questions...

We have 3 yr olds who like to be hands on. We really want it to be a fun afternoon for everyone. I can keep them out of the hot water, but past that I'm more likely to let em at it. Is this too messy for two 3yr olds?

Does the stovetop method work better than the microwave? Microwave seems safer and quicker.

I have these soap making dyes http://www.soapwizards.com/tek9.asp?...cific=jnrngmi0 already that I want to try. Has anyone tried something similar? I assume it will work as long as I add vinegar.

We have talked about sacrificing one of our silks to use as a tester in the colors, but I have a yd of raw silk too that I'd be happier about cutting in to. Is it worth doing testers? I guess I'm more inclined to just go for it, but my friend is a little more cautious.

Thanks for all the lovely pictures!

It's pretty much all done with hot water, steam, boiling water and vinager so I'm not sure what they could do. I'm ok with mess, but I was scalding myself the whole time.

I found that the stovetop gave me better results and wasn't as hard as I had imagined. Almost as easy as microwave with better results.

[runes]

i did the microwave method and it was incredibly easy.

soak the blank in some hot water for a few minutes.
while it's soaking, make up the dye in a plastic cup. i just eyeballed it...one packet of dye to about 1 cup of water and a 'splash' of white vinegar.
wring out the water from the blank, and put in a ziploc baggie.
pour the koolade over the blank in the baggie and squish it around.
close the baggie almost all the way, leave a little vent hole.
place in pyrex dish with opening draped over the side of the dish.
microwave for 2 minutes.
squish the liquid and silk around and let rest for 2 minutes.
microwave for another 1-2 minutes. the water should be clear or almost clear at this point.
carefully transfer contents of baggie into a large bowl and let cool.
when cool, rinse with lukewarm water and a drop of dishwashing detergent.
wring and hang dry.

that's it. i made 6 silks each in a different color in about 30 minutes, that included my 'learning curve' for figuring out a good system. now that i know what to do i can bang them out in no time flat.

still haven't found blues or greens yet...

the microwave method does make the silks come out a bit mottled, but i like that effect. if you want a truly solid colored silk, the stovetop method would probably be a better choice.

hth!!

does anyone have experience with just putting the koolade powder directly onto the silk? i imagine that you can get some pretty cool effects that way. i might just have to try one out to test it. maybe soak the silk in a hot water/vinegar solution for a few minutes, then sprinkle? any input would be appreciated!

[Flor]

Originally Posted by karre

Hi

I've scanned the thread looking for the instructions on dying playsilks using the wilton dye method... and i didn't see that they ever got posted? Would it be possible for someone to PM me the instructions too?

Thanks!

They are in #53!

[Selah L.]

Thank you

Thank you all so much! I was so inspired by all your amazing playsilks that I ordered some from Dharma (anyone else think of Lost when you read that?) and they came in 2 days! I made a koolaid playsilk this morning and just now made one that is a wonderful rich orange. I used coffee and curry powder. I'll try and post a photo because it came out really well.
Do you have to do something special to color set it after you boil the silk?

[Think of Winter]

I have these soap making dyes http://www.soapwizards.com/tek9.asp?...cific=jnrngmi0 already that I want to try. Has anyone tried something similar? I assume it will work as long as I add vinegar.

FYI, I finally got around to trying these natural mineral dyes. They do not work for silk I followed the kool-ade dyeing directions, and the water never turned clear, the fiber did not absorb the dye, and it all rinsed out. My playsilk is a nice, very pale shade of blue, but not what I had in mind. Oh well.

[Think of Winter]

Originally Posted by Selah L.

I used coffee and curry powder. I'll try and post a photo because it came out really well.
Do you have to do something special to color set it after you boil the silk?

I'm no expert, but no one else has answered you yet, so I thought I'd chime in. I believe you need acid to set it. The kool ade is slightly acidic already, but it wouldn't hurt to give them both an acid bath. I believe most people use vinegar, about 1 pt vinegar to 3 pts water. You may need to heat it up... Anyone else?

[Selah L.]

Thank colleen95! I should be good then. I followed directions found on here and added vigegar to the pot then rinsed it with soap afterward. Now if only I can find a store that stocks more than 2 flavors.

[-Blair-]

Thanks for the info!!!

[Kari_mom]

I didn't realize that everyone was waiting for Wilton icing colors/dyeing instructions! I don't have my original PM to Flor, but here is an expanded version of playsilk dyeing.

Microwave directions: Mix Koolaid and 2 cups water, add splash of vinegar. Less koolaid=lighter colors, more Koolaidr=more intense colors. Place play silk in freezer ziplock or glass bowl, pour koolaid over it. Microwave for 2 minutes, rearrange silk if you want, microwave for additional two minutes, let it cool a bit, rinse in cool water. Hang to dry or put in dryer with a towel, using the dryer means less wrinkles and softer silks.

Variations - use food colors instead of koolaid; soak silk in vinegar solution then squirt/paint colors on, then microwave. To use wilton icing colors, dissolve the paste first in a cup of warmish water. Some colors take longer to dissolve than others so check the bottom of the dye solution.

Advantages - fast for a few silks, neat designs. Easy for everyone to do their own thing. Disadvantages- slower for lots of silks, colors are uneven, silks can catch on fire if they dry out, bags can leak.

Stovetop - Bring pan of water to boil, I use a 6 quart dutch oven. Add two glugs of vinegar to pot. Mix Koolaid in 1 cup water, add to pan. Add silk, stirr occasionally until it is the color you want. Pull it out, let it drain a minute, rinse in cool water. I use a wire colander to drain over the pot, transfer the silk to the faucet, and then to rinse. Dry as above.

Variations- Same as above. Also dip dyeing, when you put just a part of the silk in the dye pot.

Advantages- Even dye coverage, easy to do several silks at once and remove them at different times for different shades. Best method for really dark, rich shades. Disadvantages- Takes longer to do a few silks as compared to microwave, not kid-friendly.

Hot tap water - Put koolaid powder in a ziplock bag, add silk, add hottest tap water. Mix around. Let sit for ~20 minutes. Open, dump and rinse.

Advantages - Super kid friendly, I've done groups of 25 kids this way. Disadvantages - You get what you get, you can't control the color or the design very well.

[Melaniee]

I've done Kool-aid microwave method lots, but they always end up a mottled pastel. I've also used Dylon from Joann's and I can get darker more vibrant colors but it's not the instant gratification of Kool Aid. It takes a couple of hours and a lot of stirring.

Use both methods I've done a two-tone silk by dip-dyeing and it turned out nicely, though harder to do with the Dylon.

Has anyone tried a rainbow with silks? Dc are really wanting a huge rainbow and I bought the silk but I was wondering if anyone had any BTDT advice before I take a practice run on a regular silk. I do not want a 'tied' effect.

TIA!

[feminist~mama]

Subbing

[LovinLiviLou]

My DD is sensitive to food colorings/additives, so I'd like to use natural things for dyeing. Does anybody have good tips/instructions for using natural plants and spices for the dyes? I'm most interested in what things are most colorfast and what to use with the different materials (salt vs vinegar, etc) to make the color stick.

TIA!

[Zoeanne]

Originally Posted by LovinLiviLou

My DD is sensitive to food colorings/additives, so I'd like to use natural things for dyeing. Does anybody have good tips/instructions for using natural plants and spices for the dyes? I'm most interested in what things are most colorfast and what to use with the different materials (salt vs vinegar, etc) to make the color stick.

TIA!

Hereare some for sale; maybe they can give you an idea of what you can use

Another link

A great link with instructions on gathering and using natural materials, categorized by color of resulting dye

[catnip]

Originally Posted by Melaniee

I've done Kool-aid microwave method lots, but they always end up a mottled pastel. I've also used Dylon from Joann's and I can get darker more vibrant colors but it's not the instant gratification of Kool Aid. It takes a couple of hours and a lot of stirring.

Use both methods I've done a two-tone silk by dip-dyeing and it turned out nicely, though harder to do with the Dylon.

Has anyone tried a rainbow with silks? Dc are really wanting a huge rainbow and I bought the silk but I was wondering if anyone had any BTDT advice before I take a practice run on a regular silk. I do not want a 'tied' effect.

TIA!

We did a rainbow silk by dip dyeing in our leftover Easter Egg dyebaths. It turned out nicely. We just let it soak for a little while in each color.

[Siana]

How do you dye silks in a rainbow of colours?

I was looking at Sarah's silks, and their rainbows are so neatly done, with no obvious overlap of colours. How do they do that?

[quirkylayne]

I use rubber bands, just like I did in the 80's!