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About these dyes!
We sell Procion MX dyes. They come as a powder to which you add water. They are fiber reactive dyes-- which means that they actually change the color of the fiber, as opposed to staining or sitting on top of the fiber. When used correctly, they are permanent, colorfast and washable. ProcionMX dyes work very well on cotton, rayon, linen or hemp. They are available in a wide range of colors, but can also be mixed if you are trying to match a color. Soda Ash is the fixative used for these dyes. (Note: We have dyes for other types of fabric. If you are dyeing something other than cotton, linen, rayon or hemp, check out our fabric dyes page. It may hold the answer to your burning questions!)
Hints and Important things you need to know!You can store the powder and auxillary products for a long period of time providing they are kept in a cool and dry place. Once they are exposed to moisture, they begin to degrade.Dyes are transparent. That means you need to remember all those things they taught you in grade school about mixing colors. If you have a yellow shirt, and you dye it blue... you will end up with green. Procion dyes are considered safe when used properly. Inhalation of the powder can cause an allergic reaction in some people, so wearing a dust mask while handling the powder is suggested. Given the chance, the dye solution will stain clothing, hands, tables etc.... Gloves are suggested for your hands, plastic sheeting is suggested for your work area and don't do it where you have white carpet!
Vat Dyeing!
Dyeing with one color. | Use this process if you want to dye fabric one color.
The key to an even dye job is three fold--
One- the fabric should be completely wet before going into the dyebath
Two- the garment must be allowed to move freely
and
Three- stir, stir, stir. Option 1- Bucket dyeing- a plastic bucket or garbage can works well. (Naomi's hint! Do not do this in a bathtub or sink unless it is stainless steel-- porcelaine will stain!) For 1lb of dry fiber use: 3 gallons of warm water, between 1-4 tablespoons of dye, 2 cups salt, and 1/4 cup soda ash. The quantities will vary based on the color you use. Check on the chart along with a printable set of instructions HERE! Fiber should be washed and wet before going into the dye bath.- Fill a container with warm water, salt and dye in the correct proportions. When salt and dye are completely dissolved add wet fabric and stir on and off for 20 minutes.
- In a different container, dissolve soda ash in warm water . Add to the dyebath. Do not pour directly onto the fabric. Continue stirring for about 50 minutes (30 minutes for pastels).
- Remove from dyebath. Rinse in cold water to remove residue dye. From then on you can rinse and dry as you normally would.
We have provided the basic formula here. Increase or decrease it depending on your particular project. Option 2-- washing machine dyeing This is an efficent way to dye if you have a lot of yardage that needs to be dyed one color. It is not cost effective if you just have one pair of pants. For 3-5 lbs of dry fiber use: 6-8 cups salt, 2 cups soda ash (3 for darker colors), 3-9 Tablespoons on dye. Fiber should be washed and wet before going into the dye bath. - Fill washing machine to medium load with warm water. Add salt and dye and agitate until dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Place wet fabric in machine and agitate for 20 minutes (you need to make sure that you are extending the agitation time without draining or adding water.)
- In a different container, dissolve soda ash in warm water. Add to dye bath.
- agitate for 50 minutes (30 minutes for pastels).
- Let machine drain and finish the rinse cycle.
- To clean the machine, run through a complete rinse cycle with hot water.
A variation on this method is the baggie method. This is a favorite for quilters who want to dye their own small pieces of fabric and produce fabric that is solid without being uniform. Normally you want a container large enough for the fabric. With the baggie method, you want an uneven dye job, so you put all the ingredients in the bag, mix the ingredients, cram the fabric in, shake a little and then let it sit. When you pull the fabric out you end up with a mottled piece that is tone on tone. One more thing-- people who do lots of dyeing get very scientific about it. They do not measure the ingredients, they weigh them. If you want to repeat your results, you must weigh. That said, if you want to change the colors of something, you can have success by measuring the ingredients. Matching an existing color is very very very difficult to do-- mostly due to the fact that every piece of fabric will take the dye differently, even if you are talking about two things that are both 100% cotton. If the outcome is important, you need to have test fabric that is exactly the same and you need to document your every move...otherwise you won't be able to duplicate the results. |
If you have a question about dyes, quantities or techniques, email us, and we'll try to help.
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