Date: 4/16/04 6:49 PM

Theres been some discussion of fabric dyeing over on the FSG thread, thought it might be nice to set up a separate discussion thread. I really haven't done more than dabble around with fabric dyeing, but here are some resources that I have found helpful, and some I just looked up on google:

Chemical dyes:

Dharma Trading sells dyes, rtd fabrics, and dye-related products. Their webpage also has information on selecting and using dyes. Customer service is reputedly also very helpful. (nayy)

Paula Burch's Dyeing Webpage  has instructions, a gallery, and sources.

Fiber Antics info and instructions for dyeing a color wheel using Procion dyes.

Costumer's Manifesto page with links to suppliers, how-to, and historical dyeing techniques.

Natural Dyes:

Dharma and The Woolery carry mordants and dyestuffs for natural dyes (so do other places, these are the only two that I have purchased from).

For someone interested in casual natural dyeing, I will recommend two Dover books:
Craft of the Dyer, by Karen Casselman
Natural Dyes and Home Dyeing by Rita Adrosko
these two books discuss basic dye methods, and list common plants which can be used for dyeing. Dover has more books on dyeing, but I happen to own these two.

For anyone interested in historical dyes (specifically medieval Europe), I also recommend:

E. Crowfoot.  Textiles and Clothing: Medieval Finds from Excavations in London, 1150-1450 HMSO, 1992.

Harte and Ponting. Cloth and Clothing in Medieval Europe. Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., London, 1983. 0-435-32382-2

Weigle, Palmy. Ancient Dyes for Modern Weavers. Watson-Guptill Publications, NY 1974, 0-8230-0223-3

Since we are having nice weather for the first time in 6 months this weekend, I think I'll try a little sun-art dyeing!

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mmmmm woooool

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Date: 4/16/04 7:27 PM

The book: Indigo Dyeing  by Vivien Prideaux (Search Press 2003 - ISBN 0855329769) is wonderful - lots of instructions and with beautiful photos.

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Date: 4/17/04 2:36 PM

I forgot to add a useful book for controlled dyeing (calculating hue and intensity, etc, getting repeatable results), mostly with Procion dyes on yarn or quilting-type fabric, but covers basic dyeing info:

Hands on Dyeing by Betsy Blumenthal and Kathryn Kreider, 0-934026-36-X

And for more inventive uses of dye (among other things):

Complex Cloth: A comprehensive guide to surface design, Jane Dunnewold, 1-56477-149-0

Imagery on Fabric, Jean Ray Laury, 1-57120-034-7

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mmmmm woooool

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Date: 4/17/04 5:21 PM

Another source for chemical dyes, chemicals, fabric paints, equipment and fabric to dye is G & S Dyes. This is a Canadian company, and they have a very good reputation. I have found them helpful. They have lots of info (i.e. instructions) that can be downloaded from their web site.

Another Canadian seller is:
EHB Designs
132 Rosedale Valley Road
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M4W 1P7
Ph. (416) 964-0634
Procion MX and Sumifix reactive dyes - and dye-fixing chemicals.
$2.50 for colour chart.

I have used EHB's weak acid dyes for dyeing wool for years. It's the cheapest source for buying them in bulk I've seen.

My experience with dyes has mostly been with dyeing handspun wool, using weak acid dyes. I've done some with natural dyes at a class, and I helped my son do a science fair project using kool-aid, which behaves like a weak acid dye.

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Tessa

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Date: 4/24/04 10:10 PM

Just curious.................do you dye fabric for garmets? If so what have you done. I have been dyeing cotton for quilts for about two years now and am considering on doing some stuff for garmets.

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Date: 4/25/04 8:54 AM

Just wanted to add PROCHEMICAL.  They carry the procion dyes too.  I usually buy mine from Dharma, but I have heard this place is cheaper and has good service.

I have one of those Setacolor sun printing kits and I want to try it out this summer with the kids.  

Also planning a tie dye project with the Brownies next year.

Mary B

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Mary B
http://rightsidestogether.blogspot.com/

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Date: 4/25/04 9:56 AM

I usually dye cottons or silks with Procion or acid dyes, respectively. I'm sure I could buy the same fabrics and colors in most cases, but I enjoy dyeing. Sometimes there are colors that are hard to find in retail in the fabric you want - like shirtings, which come in pretty limited colors, but you can buy them in white and get whatever color your want with dye. Plus, pfd fabrics can be a lot cheaper, and you can buy in bulk. I do overdye fabrics sometimes - curtains that are faded, frex. If I have a large piece of yardage, I might dye part of it a different color so that I don't get tired of the same fabric.

I'd like to try different techniques (like shibori, and dye painting), but don't really have the wherewithal to do so in my small shared urban apartment; so this will wait until I finish school and move away.

Mary B, I tried using transparencies with printed designs on them last week for sun printing, and it didn't work at all. The entire transparency printed, so i just got bleached rectangular areas. I was hoping this would be a quick and easy way to get detailed designs, but I guess not....

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mmmmm woooool

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Date: 4/25/04 2:18 PM

A new online friend has been suggesting that I try dyeing and offered this store as a great place to start because the dyes are non toxic, all natural products for silks and natural fabrics Things Japanese.  Has anyone tried these dyes?  I know I have so little time to add to my activities.  What say you all?

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http://www.thestitchery.wordpress.com
http://www.thesewingdivas.wordpress.com

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Date: 4/25/04 4:06 PM

Nikki,
Bummer about the transparencies.  You just never know, do you?  Thanks for the warning.  Right now I'm thinking I"ll use some of my kids' art stencils/cutouts.  I think dd has one with ocean life.  Also some palm leaves or whatever foliage I can find that would make an interesting shape.  Seems like I read an article about this that said you can get interesting effects with salt.  I'll probably give it a try.

Mary B (who vat dyed some cotton today)

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Mary B
http://rightsidestogether.blogspot.com/

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Date: 4/27/04 9:58 AM

MaryBeth: The description of the dyes on the Things Japanese website sounds almost too good to be true. I'd start with a small quantity and make sure they really do work that well before investing in a large quantity. Note that they really seem to be recommended mostly for silk.

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Tessa

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