Creative Carole: Dyeing for colour.....

I love dyeing, the very unexpected nature of the results is just wonderful - and it does not matter what you 'think' the fabric may turn out like - it just never looks like anything you could imagine - most times in a good way - sometime in a not so good way!

There is a lot of 'stuff' needed for dyeing - not just the fabric (or anything else you would like to dye) but the dye, the measuring instruments, water and the salt and soda solutions - a very big box of stuff.

I purchased some dye a few years back with the intention of doing some on my own but I just never seem to get round to it - like so many things in my life. However, luckily for me once a year the QQ try and arrange a day in the summer and Saturday was one such day. And luckily for us we have our own expert CD to guide us along!

This year I have had very little time to think about what I wanted to achieve, and perhaps with nothing in mind to use the dyed fabric for, a little unplanned for the day. I have considered several times in my head - what if - and choose today to try some of the what ifs......and for my own future reference - a quick dyeing section for me to refer to.

First of all then.....

Salt and Soda Solution. Made up before the day.

And pre wash your fabric (or whatever you want to dye).

On the day.....

Dyes.

There are many dye that you can use - however the Procion Dyes I use work very well on cotton. The Helen Deighan - Magic Dyeing Made Easy Book (we actually have five copies of this book within the QQ group) gives you details on making up the dyes, mixing, and general dyeing tips.

My experiments for the day then -

100% cotton thread - tied around the legs of my smallest coffee table to get a long hank. Red at one end yellow at the other.

Results:

The left over dye at the bottom of the tray - never waste - stick a bit of fabric in.

Result:

Cotton shopping bag - tied in a loose knot - really unsure on outcome of this one - have a feeling it will contain a large amount of white under the knot.......

Result:

White fabric with dye dotted - its folded in half - and although its was dots of dye you can already see the dots spreading....not sure on the bit dollop of purple on the edge there.....

Fabric dyed yellow and then again with dye dots - two different colours to see the outcome.....

Results:

Cotton velvet - dyed purple last time - my first bit of over dyeing - how much darker will it go?

Result: It is actually much darker - the light the photo was taken in has not done the piece justice....

Normal dyeing in a bag....

And dyeing in a jam jar, magenta on the bottom - yellow on top....

And fabric, with elastic bands.....

Spot which one of us used gloves.....

The dye only takes around four hours to activate with the cloth - but generally I leave it overnight. And then its rinse, rinse, rinse..... I then took the risk and put this lot into the machine....