Monday, December 7, 2015

Dyeing to Share


I've been hanging out in some colorful spots lately checking out new blogs and artists. One that has really captured my attention is Creations...Quilts, Art....Whatever, by Nina-Marie Sayer. She has great linky party each Friday called Off the Wall, and I've used it to do some serious blog hopping. I think I'm being pulled into another dimension of quilting.


 I can see my taste changing in both fabric and design. I want to do some experiments with different colorways and patterns, and quite frankly, I can't find what I'm looking for so I've decided to make my own. This tutorial has been on my list for months: Easy Peasy Red Solo Cup Hand Dyeing Tutorial. I had pieces and parts of supplies for it, but decided it was time to jump in. 


The most basic thing I was missing was a table. I ran into this beauty at Goodwill for $40. The leaf fit well, and I got a 6' vintage formica table with curves and chrome. I made sure to cover it well with a vinyl table cloth, and newspapers to absorb spills.

My fabric is Kona PFD (prepared for dyeing), and I scrubbed (machine washed) it in Dawn Blue Dishwashing Liquid instead of Synthrapol. I started with a tub of 1 cup soda ash (sodium carbonate) dissolved in about a gallon of water to soak my fat quarters in.


While they soaked, I donned my mask and gloves, and measured out dye. The mask is important! Can you see those tiny specks all over the fabric above? It's from small dye particles that drifted while I was measuring. Wear the mask!

 I had only a vague idea what I was doing, and how much dye I would wind up with, but I made one small batch of each color using only 1 tsp. of dye each. This was a starter package of Jacquard Procion MX Dyes with Lemon Yellow, Turquoise, Fuchsia, and Jet Black. I had my other cups ready to do some blending, but I was actually a little nervous.

 

 
A not so glamorous shot, but you get the picture. 
Be smart. Protect yourself.



 The timeline was 9:40 a.m. when all the fabrics were all immersed in dye. 



I started rinsing around 2:30 or so. I only had the one small tub, and to keep the fabrics separated I put them back into individual cups after rinsing. The purple dye was taking forever to rinse clear, so I put all like colors together to soak in cold water. 




Sneak peek of the Jet Black. I had run out of FQ in the Kona PFD, and threw in 2 fat eights of Linen PFD. These were not smashed down into the cups entirely, and had a wonderful patterning to them.




I realized I need more tubs, so my scraps went out into piles on the floor of the studio. Oh, well. At the end of the afternoon, I tipped out all my water, and loaded my tubs to take home. Now a run through the washer, and I get to do some serious ooohing and ahhhhing with the Doxie girls.

This has been a most excellent day worthy of a Whoohooo! I can't wipe the smile off my face. I know it's not new or anything that special, but it's new to me, and it was a fabulous experience. If you have any desire, it's absolutely worth the effort.

Come on, Doxie girls.


15 comments:

Cath said...

That is something I have always wanted to try as well and dream of a 'wet' area in my future sewing studio, or at least a spacious laundry room! great job! I loved seeing how easy it seems...gotta give it a go. thanks for linking up with http://cathquilts.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/dbm-12-its-starting-to-look-like.html

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Sounds like an interesting day. Can't wait to see the finished fabric. Good luck.

Stitchin At Home said...

You reminded me how much fun fabric dyeing is. I love pulling a piece out after the dyeing process and seeing those lovely results.

Churn Dash said...

It looks like you have some great colours. Mine were not so great. You've reminded me that I planned to use my hand dyed fabric to make a modern quilt. I must get to it! Thanks for the inspiration.
Helen

Jayne said...

It's been a while since I have been in the basement dyeing fabric! This makes me want to run down there now! I know these are going to be beautiful, I love the black piece! So interesting! I hope you plan on sharing the finished pieced? Please...

beth s said...

Looks like a very FUN project!

Susan said...

I'm jealous of your fun! I once over-dyeing commercial fabric, mostly blenders. It was cool having a print in different colors. But because of our drought and water restrictions, I haven't done any dyeing for a couple years. Bring it on El Nino!

Julie said...

You are so right mentioning the amount of water usage this commands. I have read that several people were using more conservative rinsing methods, and I'll get into that in the next post. It could get out of hand.

Leanne Parsons said...

That looks like a lot of fun! I can't wait to see the finished fabric :)

Theresa Morgan said...

I'm like everyone else in wanting to try this but I know me...It would be ALL over me like a coat of many colors!!!!!! LOL LOL LOL Great job by the way....

Julie said...

I wore old clothes, and was quick to clean up spills. Still, there was a hole in one glove. I double gloved with one surgical glove underneath hoping to keep my hand clean. When I pulled the glove off, that hand was great, but I'd missed a hole in the other glove! My thumb was a very pretty blue most of the day, but is wearing off now.

Christine Slaughter said...

Wow! What a fun new way to play with fabrics! Thanks for sharing your dyeing adventure!

Sharon - IN said...

Neat! Looking forward to seeing the final results of your dyeing. And, what you have in mind for your fabrics quilt wise.

momiji said...

What fun! Thanks for sharing--bright colors definitely help to ward off the winter blahs. I also love the way in which linen takes up dye, and your jet black samples, both linen and cotton, look extra-fabulous.

Nina Marie said...

Hey- this looks familiar!!!! Can't tell you how pleased I am that the tutorial was a help!! Don't forget you can add different colors in one cup - I would stick to closer colors to begin with ie purple, blue. And also - yes when I first started dyeing I had the same "vague" feeling like - is this going to work? BRAVO!!!