peter wrote:
Hi Peter,
Send an e-mail to the TQS member: redcheek...her fabrics are just wonderful and she uses the same dye products as you! And she is by the way the sweetest girl so I bet she will answer you...just tell her I told you to contact her

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

I have tryed dyeing my own fabric several times with moderate success, some pieces are very beautiful while others are.......
I have a quality cotton PFD fabric that I purchased from Dharma (which I still pre-wash) and fiber reactive dye and other chemicals also from Dharma. Often times my colors seem very washed out or pale compared to what I see from others who dye their own fabric.

My question is could someone please pick a hue (red or purple say) and share with me their favorite "recipe" for dye powder quantities, volume of water, whether to pre treat fabric with soda ash or add it later, etc for an intense color saturated shade?

Thanks
Peter in gray, drizzly Tacoma Wa.

I hope by now you have taken the big step and tried dyeing.

If you haven't, I would suggest you read the instructions on the Dharma Trading site or visit http://www.pburch.net/dyeing.shtml

You can set up cheaply - virtually everything you need can be purchased at the dollar store - mixing containers, bowls, tubs, Measuring utensils, zip lock bags, plastic cups, etc.

Then you need the dyes - you can start with a few of the "pure" procion colours. There are twelve or so and with them you can mix almost any colour. There are dye recipes on both the Dharma and the jacquard web sites.

You need the urea and soda ash and either synthrapol or dishwashing liquid to wash the fabric.

To start you can use the cheapest white muslin fabric you can find. Once you get a feel for what you are doing you can decide what price point of fabric you want to use.

Have a great time!

YES! Any plain and ordinary person can dye! I have taken numerous workshops in it - I LOVE TO DYE my own fabric. I would say if you can take a workshop, that is the best way to jump in, this way you don't have to invest a lot of money before you know if its something you want to do or not in the future. Search online for demonstrations, and techniques - and be honest with yourself - I HATE using the dyes that need to be treated, then I have to wear a mask, its just too involved for me right now, but I love to use Setacolor (which is a fabric paint that acts like a dye) I love Jacquards and there are even more out there - you can even have fun with RIT dyes and Koolaid! Experiment. There are gals and guys doing discharding with bleach - including dishwasher detergents and bleach pens. There is Rust dyeing going on out there where you use a mixture of vinegar and metal objects with your fabric and you can come out with some amazing things! Read, read and read some more. Anyone can Dye or Paint fabric, just like you learned how to sew, you can learn how to do this! Below are some links (not affliated) for reference. Good Luck!

http://www.dharmatrading.com - great place for supplies and how to's
http://www.prochem.com - another site for the same
http://www.andrusgardensquilts.vox.com/ great tutorial on Sunprinting, without the sun!
http://www.skydyes.com - mickey lawlors site

Tina Marie Rey

http://www.tmrey.com
http://www.tmrey.etsy.com
http://www.tmrey.blogspot.com

Looks like it's my turn to be the first!!

I am looking into dying my own fabrics. I am enthralled with Ricky and Caryl Fallert's colors and use of color along with many other artists. But I am having trouble determining if this is something that a plain, ordinary person can do successfully. Does anyone have any experience(s) they can share of when they first decided to step into the dying world and whether it is as easy as it sounds or something that should be avoided by the hobbyist (sp).