community of dyers - ‘Know your dyes – make better art’

Adding veins to my dye--help!

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:33:01 -0400

I'm using Procion dyes from Dharma--some tie dye, some LWI or shibori.

I'm wanting to add some veins to my work as per this shirt, which I love. I've done so by accident in the past, but I don't remember how I did so. Please, experienced dyers--help! This is driving me crazy! (To clarify, this pic that is hopefully attached iis not my work but something I'd like to give my own twist and replicate. )

I appreciate any and all suggestions!

Anybody ever try the spray DeCoulerant?

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:53:23 -0400

Hello all. I took about a year off from dye work for various life things going on and now I am back and having a fine old messy time again.

I bought some of the spray DeCoulerant discharge product on a whim, but am hesitant to use it without knowing a bit more of people's experiences with it. I planned to lay some "found objects" on a black cotton shirt from Dharma, spray, and then let it dry before ironing to discharge. However, I'm not sure how much to spray on... should the fabric be saturated? should I protect the back of the shirt from the front, or is it unlikely to soak through?

HELP! Fine Linen

Tue, 07 May 2013 02:16:52 -0400

I am new to dyeing & need some guidance. I have an expensive fine white linen top (lined) that a waiter spilled food onto. I've tried to get the stain out by dry cleaning but the stains (light coffee colored) are visible. I bought some Rit liquid wine color dye but am afraid I'll make a mistake. I've come to this site to get some professional dyeing help. Any suggestions?

cerulean blue availability

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:01:19 -0400

Justine mentioned that Dharma's cerulean blue has been out of stock for months. Does anyone here know whether it is currently (or recently) in stock anywhere else?

This is the dye variously known as Colour Index reactive blue 163, Procion Blue MX-G, ProChem's #406 Intense Blue, G&S Dye's 506 Cerulean Blue, George Weil's M50 cerulean blue, Kraftkolour's Blue MXG, Aljo's #27 peacock blue, and Jacquard's 070 cerulean blue.

ProChem's website says,

"There is currently a Worldwide shortage on this color. To make sure that we have enough to supply to all our customers, we are only able to sell a maximum of 1 x 2 lb. container per customer. We will keep you informed on this situation and thank you for your understanding."

T-shirt Sizing Problems

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:57:19 -0400

Hiya Folks!

I haven't been here in ages! Lost all my bookmarks and then my whole computer went kaput. Kept meaning to pop in, but time gets away from me.

Anyhow, I still dye shirts for myself, new grandson(!!!) and of course for a few friends that order from me every year.

For the past few years I've been doing lots and lots of Sleeveless V-neck shirts that I buy from Jiffy Shirts. My friend and I both wear size Large, so I buy them 10 or more at a time.

Last year she waited until too late in the season to give me a big order and I couldn't find any shirts to buy. Everyone else must have found out about our favorite shirt, darn it!

drab color dyeing

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:33:25 -0400

I need to dye some cotton braid (as is used with canvas) and some cotton twill tape to match several colors of waxed canvas. These are tans, murky dark greens, charcoal, and various browns.

Right now I am taking Jane Dunnewold's dyeing class at Craftsy. Jane thinks I might get undesirable results from the low water immersion dying method (colors from the mixture spotting here and there) and that I should use some technique "where the soda is put in late and the fabric is soaking in the bath for awhile - that levels out the color".

What would this method be called? Where can I learn about it? And which pure Procion MX dyes should I accumulate?

Help! How this dyed shirt was created?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:54:03 -0400

I really love the style of this shirt to use as a team sand soccer shirt because the solid dyed side will highlight the screen printing. Can anyone please tell me how I would do this? I know I would fold the wave pattern and tie tightly to retain much white. I also assume I scrunch dye one side, but how would you suggest I get the more solid color on the other side? I was thinking that this shirt looks more like a reverse bleach dye but I want to create the same effect w/procion dyes. Maybe dip dye that side? Thanks for any tips!!

Help! How this dyed shirt was created?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:53:37 -0400

Help with water crystal dyeing

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 18:40:16 -0400

I've been lurking here about four years on and off, and now I'm hoping to get help with a question I've had.

I keep seeing shirts with specific veiny marks, and that's something I want to try for my own personal usage. I'm having trouble with the technique, though. Is it LWI with salt? Freezer dyeing with dye sprinkled on it?

Any help would be appreciated!

(I've attached photos; I can't tell if they will show up in the post below or now. )

Timing is everything...Question(s).

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 05:14:56 -0400

Hi all,

I'm not really new to dyeing. I've been dyeing yarn for a couple of years now, but I had decided recently to try other methods of dyeing such as trying to mix my own unique colors rather than relying on the all-in-one dyes, but I've run into a snag. All the guides and books I've come across say to slowly bring the dye bath up to temperature after adding the fibre.

How long should it take, ideally, to bring the dye bath up to temperature?

At the moment, all my tests have pretty much been failures. I can't figure out where I've gone wrong.

I have made sure that the dyes have been properly mixed, the water is the correct PH and I have, also, used a tiny bit of levelling agent to help with even uptake as I was having problems with blue absorbing, but I'm still left with patchy results (but closer to my target color than in past tests). The only thing that I can think of to do now is adjust my heating times.

Rural dyeing

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:51:27 -0400

Hi dyer community,

I'm a seasoned urban dyer, planning a move to the countryside. Currently, I dye with Procion MX, maybe once a month, dyeing 10 - 20 metres of cotton, mostly (but not only) using low water immersion.

As I consider the various homes on offer, I want to make sure that water and septic systems are not an issue. I found a lot of very useful information on the site about septic systems, thank you. But I didn't find much information about well capacity and water quality. What questions should I be asking before I buy the house?

I'd appreciate hearing about experiences of other dyers on rural septic and wells.

Paintstik Vs Dye Painting

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:28:06 -0400

HI Paula and Forum Members

I intend to tie dye my shirts and after they are dried i would like to use paintstik to draw a motif in the centre (i just read about paintstiK)

Originally i was intending to dye paint the motif however it involves batik wax and the thickener for the paint and the shirt would go through many washings.
I would like to give these shirts away and would not like it to look worn out.

Is the paintstik method better than the dye paint.

Can one iron over it before wearing it I read that it must not be drycleaned.
Does the motif crack over time?
Will the motif feel stiff when one wears it?

A shamrock!

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:13:11 -0400

For St Patrick's Day I decided to try a shamrock and I'm really pleased with how they turned out! I used a dry T-shirt folded down the middle in the front (the back was left loose), drew half of a shamrock on the t-shirt in washable marker, used a needle threaded with fishing line to baste along the outline, pulled the thread tight, and tied with artificial sinew. A lot of work, but worth it!

Looking for plus-size rayon empire dress

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:48:52 -0400

I have a customer who wears about a size 3X and she is looking for an empire waist rayon tank or short sleeve dress. I buy all my dresses from Dahrma, and they do not have this particular combination of size, material, and style. Can anyone recommend another place to look?

tie dye with batik

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:12:19 -0400

Hi
Am not sure this topic belongs here
I intend to donate the cotton t-shirts and would be using procion dyes from dharma

half the tshirt will be tie dye (which i have never done before) and will use the centre of the tees to put a motif

i would not like to put the tees thru many washes so that it would look washed out before giving them away.

My question please is
when i die the tees my understanding is to soak it in soda ash and urea and wring out the water and do the tie dye
Can i use beeswax and do my batik outline for the motif i intend to do and then do the tie dye so that some of the color from tie dye can be used for the design i want in my batik