15 replies to this topic

[fairyprincess]

This maybe the dumbest question of mine to date!

I have a long process ahead of me that requires two shades of dye in a relatively small area. I am making the Queen Amidala Parade cape (the petal one!)

First, Can I dye both colours at the same time (dip one end then the other in a contrasting colour?)

Secondly, Can the dye be stored from day to day and just re-heat it? Otherwise I am sure to go broke buying dye for this monster!

The dye I am using is the RIT brand and the colours are Rose pink and light yellow (lemon) These dyes are the liquid ones not the powedered ones!

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!!

[MistressFey]

This maybe the dumbest question of mine to date!

I have a long process ahead of me that requires two shades of dye in a relatively small area. I am making the Queen Amidala Parade cape (the petal one!)

First, Can I dye both colours at the same time (dip one end then the other in a contrasting colour?)

Secondly, Can the dye be stored from day to day and just re-heat it? Otherwise I am sure to go broke buying dye for this monster!

The dye I am using is the RIT brand and the colours are Rose pink and light yellow (lemon) These dyes are the liquid ones not the powedered ones!

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!!

I don't think you can store them once it's mixed, the heat and exposure to oxygen gradually break down the dye componants, and if you add a fixative such as salt or vinegar to the mix, fresh fabric won't absorb the colour so well.

If you use each bottle of Rit to make several smaller batches of dye, the excess concentrate can be kept in the bottle although once the seal is cracked it will gradually age, but it should take months for it go 'off'.

I'm not a SW fan so I have no idea what the end result should look like, however if you need small areas dyed with as little bleeding as possible I would suggest laying the fabric out flat (make sure you have some cardboard or something underneath to stop the table/ ground from being stained, and to help soak up excess dye) and applying with a paintbrush. A hairdryer would help heat-fix the colour however the colours will bleed into one another whenever you wash it :s

[Chastangela]

I've had SOME success in storing old dye, reheating and using it later but have also often added a tiny bit of fresh dye to the mix. Usually have stored it in airtight glass containers but it IS easier just to make smaller batches.

For the petals on the cloak, you can do both colors at once if you like and should find it a good effect.

1. Have each color in a different pot, easy to reach
2. Have two buckets/sinks nearby full of clean water.

Then to dye:

1. Dye part of the petal you want yellow - Make sure to overlap a little into wherr you'll be dying the pink so you get a nice color blending
2. Rinse well by hand in the first bucket/sink
3. Remove excess water
4. Dip into pink dye(remembering to overlap colors) and slowly pull out - The wet fabric will help the two colors blend better and by pulling it out slowly, you will get a slight gradient for the pink with darkest color at the bottom
4. Rinse pink dye well in OTHER bucket/sink

The idea of the separate buckets is so you don't cross contaminate the colors with the residue when you rinse

Hope that helps!

[fairyprincess]

Thank you both for your advice! I think that affirms what I had originally thought!

Well, hopefully it will work!!!

[Chastangela]

I look forward to seeing the finished product! The parade outfit was beautiful. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to making the packing dress, which I love almost as much as the lake gown!

[fairyprincess]

I am making the Packing gown at the moment!!!!!

If I reach my goal wieght I would like to attempt the Lake gown!!!

[trinnyt]

I can't wait to see your Padme packing gown..

[Toddi]

Here's a dumb question from a fabric-dying n00b!

What fabrics will/won't dye?

[MistressFey]

Here's a dumb question from a fabric-dying n00b!

What fabrics will/won't dye?

There's a lot to learn on the subject, but the basic idea is that natural fibres will take dye more readily then man-made. Some polyesters/ etc can be dyed at home, but they will not develop deep or bright colours or hold it for as long without a commercial set-up.

Linen and cotton are your best bet. Silk is also easy to dye, wool is a little harder because it requires a hot dye bath. Most require a fixative (salt or vinegar are two of the most common) to stop the dye from running every time you wash it again.

[Merrick]

Big issue I have often encountered when dying, is that many garments may be made of a natural fibre, but the thread used to stitich them is not. The thread is usually some kind of polyester thread and thus on several dye jobs I have done, the stitching becomes very apparent.

[fairyprincess]

When I was hand dip dying my Amidala Parade petal cape (crazy costumer moment), I used poly organza and chiffon using Rit dyes. I found that the dye took very well as the hot bath cooled. I was informed prior to starting that the fabric would be hard to dye but I am really pleased with how well the dye took to the fabric to achieve my desired effect!

I would believe a tightly woven fabric would also be harder to take the dye but not impossible. I believe Rit Dye's website has a mountain of information on the subject, after all it is their business to know!!!!

They also have recipes for different colours that you make from a mixture of their dyes.

[MistressFey]

Dharma Trading also has heaps of information on different types of dyes, fabrics and techniques.

[Toddi]

Thankyou for your informative posts! Onwards and upwards and time to try something!

[Last_Chael]

Oooh some very helpful information! Do post the results of your dyeing too!

[mdb]

Nylon takes dye very well also Polyester tends to not absorb home dyes but the dye can settle on the outside. I like to use acrylic paint watered down to colour polyester.

Cotton is the most readily dyeable and as such can be the most finicky. As it absorbs dye so quickly it is more prone to blotching. Silk is a little harder so results tend to be rather smoother. Wool is on par but as I have experienced the odd lanolin patch I really recommend washing it well! Mohair also dyes well and if you strip it first with a mix of water, meths and dishwashing liquid it really gets very impressively coloured

I use Dylon almost exclusively as it is so readily available from pharmacies and super markets here.

[Wyvie]

I used some stuff recently called iDye, which comes in a neat-o soluble packet, and does a wonderful job on polyester. I can't remember where I got it, but there were one or two Aussie suppliers, I think I found out about it on Dharma in the first place, then went hunting. Dyed a pair of grey pinstripe pants to a beautiful shade of Joker without any problems. Except that SOMEone hasn't bought me a new stockpot to replace the one I used yet!