Dyeing Help

[Lady Rosalind]

As I was standing at my kitchen sink with obscenities pouring from my lips, I realized I should have asked the geniuses on the boards about fabric dyeing BEFORE attempting to dye anything on my own.

So...

Any tricks to share? Anything that you've found makes the process easier?

I have access to a hand-washing sink in our laundry room (and didn't use it, doh!), my bathtub, and the kitchen sink. The whole kitchen sink and bathtub route did not work very well this Sunday... (but hey, I found out that Clorox Clean-up with Bleach works to take a purple tub back to white!!). Is the washing machine technique more effective? Easier?

I attempted to dye 2 yards of white corduroy grey. Using black dye. In my sink. Yep. Won't do that again.

I am pleased with the color I got after the fabric was in the dyebath for about 4 minutes, but the coverage is uneven, and there are areas with a RED tint as well (which makes sense, as the tub was purple...). I can probably work around the problem areas, but I would rather have nice, even color, if I decide to dye again in the future.

Wishing my son hadn't insisted on grey, black, and silver for garb this year... I can't seem to find ANYTHING in grey other than quilter's cotton, which is not going to work for noble garb...

All help is welcome! 

[Adriana Rose]

For dyeing I have been using a 5 gallon bucket lined with a trash bag.. that way you can toss the mess when you are done. I would use the sink in your laundry room to rinse the fabric off

I usualy let my dye baths sit over night but I try for really dark colors. When you want a solid color you really need to watch how it goes into the bath! try to hold it straightish when you are dunking it that way you avoid mottling the colors.

I have discovered that if you cut the peices out first you dont waste as much dye on the exess of fabric. Then you just need to rinse it and then I wash it like twice to help get the rest of the dye off of the peices


good luck!

[Syrilla]

Depending on the fabric and the dye brand, use salt or soda ash!

Always prewash/wet your fabric before washing.

Always move the fabric around, up down, around, in and out.... like a wash tub.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I've had great success with both cotton and linen using the washer.  I have a front loader.  I just used Dylon Machine Dye, weighed then washed the fabric (quick wash, just to get the dressing out), and followed the destructions.  One lot came out a delicious true beige with a proper hint of pink behind it, the other deep chocolate brown.  Both were very evenly dyed.  Both were true to the box colour as well, for a wonder.   

[sealion]

I've had great success with both cotton and linen using the washer.  I have a front loader.  I just used Dylon Machine Dye, weighed then washed the fabric (quick wash, just to get the dressing out), and followed the destructions.  One lot came out a delicious true beige with a proper hint of pink behind it, the other deep chocolate brown.  Both were very evenly dyed.  Both were true to the box colour as well, for a wonder.   

I didn't know it was possible to dye in a front loader! That is good news!

[isabelladangelo]

I've dyed silk and linen in my washer.  It's much easier but I'd use the liquid dye since it seems to work a LOT better than the powder stuff.

[Platt]

I typically pre-wash any fabric using "Baby" laundry soap and/or dump about half a box of baking soda in it.  (Was told a while ago that it works, and I don't ask questions when it works)

I have a big stew pot (about 8 gallon) that I stick on the stove.  I usually double the dye, simply because it never comes out the color I want when I do the true instructions.

I usually leave the cloth in the pot for an hour (for faded color) or an upwards of 5 hours (for deeper colors).  At the beginning, I stir about every two minutes, but extend the time between stirrings as it sits longer.

The main thing I've found is to put the cloth into the water trying to keep wrinkles and twists out of it, cuz that causes the dye to be patchy.  Same with mixing.  Don't stir in such a way that it will twist the cloth, because then the dye can't saturate the cloth enough. 

When I'm done, I rinse it in ice cold water, wash it on cold (no detergent) then a second time (with mild detergent)...   Dry and It's good.

I also heard that if you let it "drip dry" before washing it, or letting it dry and ironing it before washing it, it will hold the color more.  (I see a little difference in the color when I do that, but not enough to take all the time)

Also, for darker colors, I've dyed it, run it through the washer/dryer, and dumped it back in a fresh dye batch.

[Lady Ellie]

If you were to dye a chemise, would you take out the elastic in sleeves and neckline ? 

Thank you,

Lady Ellie

[Lady Toadflinger]

Here's another dyeing question: has anybody tried the spray fabric dye that Joann carries?  I just bought a spiffy lace parasol at a flea market for 5$.  The only problem with it is it is white, and I'd prefer something like a rich brown or burgandy.  I saw the dye at Joann but I thought I'd ask for advice first. Any experience, y'all?

[Lord Dragonspyre]

And another question... what dyes are appropriate to use in a top-loading washing machine?

[Margrett]

I just did a dye job on some tan wool twill and threw in two other smaller pieces. I dyed it with dark green liquid RIT in an 18-gallon black storage tub from Home Depot (cheap and I don't care if it gets stained). I threw in nearly a cup of salt for better results.  I live in an apartment, so I can't stain sinks or laundry equipment. So I agitated the fabric as much as I could but not very much. And I let the fabrics sit in the dye bath overnight.

The wool twill ended up a beautiful olive green, solid and not patchy. The other two smaller pieces were beautiful in my swatch test but ended up very patchy in the end result.

So, in my position, would you just dye the smaller pieces again in the same color? Or would the patchy spots still be patchy?

Thanks,
Margrett

[tigerlilly]

If you were to dye a chemise, would you take out the elastic in sleeves and neckline ? 

Thank you,

Lady Ellie

Yes, otherwise you may get a bit of a tie-dye effect where the elastic has gathered the fabric.

And another question... what dyes are appropriate to use in a top-loading washing machine?

I've had good luck with liquid RIT dye in the washing machine.  It works best on natural fibers.  Something like a brocade may dye unevenly if the background and the pattern are made in different-fibered threads.
I've never tried the powder, although I think that's available in a wider range of colors.  Adding some salt is supposed to help set the dye, but I can't remember if I used it or how much I used.  You can get RIT at fabric or craft stores, Wal Mart (check both the craft and the laundry section), even a lot of grocery stores carry it in the laundry aisle near all the specialized stain treatments.  It didn't stain the inside of the machine, although I'd run an empty load or a load of rags or something with bleach afterwards to be sure there's no residue lying in wait for the next time you do laundry.

[Lady Penelope]

My question isn't regarding faire attire, but a bridesmaid dress.
I made two dresses, they aren't the right colour. Is it hard to dye already made garments?
If it can be done, what special steps should I do to ensure an even dye?

[Kate XXXXXX]

Only if it's a natural fiber.  Even then it may not dye evenly.

[Lady Rosalind]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! I still haven't had a chance to try to re-dye the fabric. I may have to just try to find another color for my son to use for this spring's garb, and work on the gray for this fall (he's growing so fast that he'll need a new doublet by then anyway  ).

Thanks again!!!!