Help me get started with fabric dyeing!

[pinky]

I just got all these wonderful undyed fabrics through a co-op and they are just begging to be dyed. I have visions of colored fireflies dancing in my head.

Any tips for getting started? I figure I'll order procion dyes from dharma trading, but I'm a little intimidated by the process. Tell me it's not too hard to make it work!

And for those of you who use those dyes...especially on something that gets washed a lot like a diaper..do I need to use their dye fixative or an additional treatment like that? It isn't listed in the vat dyeing instructions but I don't want a bleeding diaper!

Thanks for your input!

[Solange]

also getting into this dyeing thing

Someone just passed this link along to me to day....
hth
good luck!

http://www.pburch.net/dyeing.shtml

[bellee]

That's a great site! It got me started and now I'm hooked!

[moominmamma]

I'm brand-new to Procion MX dyeing and I'll reassure you: it's totally straightforward. Dharma's instructions are great and the colours are brilliant and totally washfast as far as I can tell. The first three or so washes bleed just a smidge, but they recommend those be done using the Synthrapol detergent and that seems to look after the excess dye just fine. I'm not using the fixative, just letting the dye sit a good 18-24 hours to really react with the fibres. My articles aren't bleeding at all despite pretty rigourous washing conditions (so far... I only started doing this about three weeks ago).

I'm hooked! In the past three weeks I've done a sarong, two pairs of shorts, three diaper covers, four bibs, four T-shirts, three rompers and three dresses. The results are so gratifying.

Have fun!

Miranda

[Sara Mama]

Dharma is wonderful.

To get you started they have a superb kit for "plastic baggy dyeing" that uses zip lock bags. The book that comes with it is fabulous.

The dyes are expensive, but to start out with, all you really need are three colors: lemon yellow, fuschia, and turquoise. You can make almost anything from those three. Then add in some fun darker blues, greens, browns, etc.

If you are nervous about dyeing anything and messing up -- don't be! I've made some wonderful mistakes.

Personnally, I skip the recommended soap -- it's pretty icky stuff (don't touch etc.) and just use 7th generation.

I made up a technique that kids can do easily I mix up my dye and put it in squirt bottles (from dharma as well) then I soak my item (son's tshirt) in water and the "soda ash solution" and put it in a big plastic tub like for storing sweaters. Then I give my son the squirt bottles and let him squirt to his heart's content. He's dyed some gorgeous shirts!

[elfmum]

Don't be intimidated. It's wonderful, & so much fun to see the outcome. My only caution when washing the first time to get out the rest of the dyes: make sure you rinse as much dye out first, & don't overload the washer(or things can get muddy)

If you really mess up & absolutely need to redo you can get out most of the dye with the remover, but I found it nasty to work with, & smelly too!