Very Frustrated, Please Help

[Cheryl K.]

I have been making an attempt at dying and I am really not sure if I am doing this whole thing correctly. It appears that when I rinse and wash, too much of my color is coming out :x

I am using procion dyes, mixing them with the appropriate amount of room temp water, letting the dye set into the fabric then adding the soda ash/water mixture.

After I let the dye bath sit for a few hours, I rinse, then do a short washer cycle in synthropol.

Do the colors normally wash out a little lighter? I am trying for bright and vivid and just missing the mark a bit. Can anyone give me any tips?

Much Thanks!

P.S - A Ricky or Justin Classroom video on dyeing would be awesome!! :wink:

[Cheryl K.]

:shock: Oops... That's dyeing not dying....

[Cheryl K.]

You did not mention the fabric that you use. If it is not PFD- prepared for dyeing- The dye molecules will not adhere as well and there will be dye to rince out. Try washing your fabric in soda ash to remove any finish that might be blocking the chemical bond. Add some salt to the dye bath. You may just need more concentrated dye. I hope one of those ideas help. Keep trying. Betty Ann

[Cheryl K.]

I've been doing some microwave dyeing with ordinary Dylon dyes and salt. Fab results with no fuss. Have you considered other ways of dyeing?

[Cheryl K.]

Hi. Betty Ann, thanks for the reply. I have been usin the PFD Kona Cotton from Kauffamn. (I should have mentioned that) I have not yet tried adding the non iodized salt. Do you use the same type of dyes? What is the mixtrue you use when dyeing? I have been using 1-2 tsp of dye per 1 cup of water. Thanks

[Barbara L.]

I am about to begin the Quilt University dyeing course. You may want to check it out.

[Barbara L.]

There's your problem. Use tablespoons not teaspoons. More dye will get you more color. Wet fabric will appear darker. Some lightening will happen when you dry and iron your fabric.

[Barbara L.]

Thanks Betty Ann, I will try that.

Bunny, I did look at that Quilt University class. Maybe I will enroll also. It looks like you need a lot of fabric and a lot of dye though...

[Barbara L.]

When I have dyed fabric, I soaked my pre-washed cotton fabric in a soda-ash solution for 20 minutes. I then squeezed out the excess solution, before dying the fabric.

I then leave the dyed fabric 12-24 hours before rinsing.

I've had no problem with vibrant colours.

The soda ash solution can be re-used multiple times.

Karen

[Barbara L.]

I guess the only thing I can add is that I was taught that dyes (once they are mixed) have a shelf life. But, if you had just mixed the dye and you used soda ash...I don't know.

[Barbara L.]

Bettyann,
I got a chance this weekend to try dyeing again and I took your advice of adding more dye and adding salt to my recipe. My fabric pieces came out much better!! Now I just need to work on blending the colors on the fabric. Thanks for the help :lol:

Maria

[Barbara L.]

Glad to hear you are getting closer to the results you want. Have fun and enjoy the journey. Betty Ann

[Barbara L.]

All great advice. Another thing I started doing was adding a little soda ash to the dye mixture. It has to be used right away but it does seem to help retain the color.

[Eileen K.]

I just took a dyeing class from a member of my guild this past Tuesday. I'd taken the QU class a couple of years ago but didn't get the greatest results. We used PFD fabric and she pre-mixed the dye powders for us. We did 12 fat quarters, the last 2 being tie-dyed, and got fantastic results. With her method, we only had to soak the dyed fabric in the soda ash water for 1 hour and the dye was fixed. I can see myself using this method a lot!

[Norma H.]

I have read all your posts and I think something might be missing. No one mentions temperature and living in a not so hot place I found out this is essential for the color to fix. I was very frustrated, when I began dyeing, but when I found this website, http://www.pburch.net/ , it helped a lot. I think you can get all answers to your problems there. Good luck, it's so much fun to make your own fabric.