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For some reason, ever since my friends/co-workers chose the fabrics for their Christmas presents and one of them was unfamiliar with the word "batik", it seems like I keep running into things about hand dyeing fabric.
I have a vague middle school memory of an art class tie-dye project, but I certainly haven't tried any fabric dyeing since I started sewing about 10 years ago.
How about you? Have you done any fabric dyeing? If so, I'd love to hear about it - the how and the why... If you point me to pictures, I'll include them (and credit you, of course!) in my Talk Back Thursday post. And what advice would you give to someone who was considering trying it?
If not, is it something that you'd like to try someday? Or on your "meh, not so much..." list?
12 comments:
dyeing fabric fascinates me, but i haven't tried it yet. at this point in my life, with the kids, i can't figure out WHEN i can learn how!
(hey, my word verification is abatiq. almost batik!)
I'm going to try fabric dyeing during my Christmas vacation. I took a bra making class and I want to dye the fabric. I have all the equipment and I'm ready to experiment.
I've played around with it some. The only example I have on my blog is rather tie-dyeish: http://sew-and-so.blogspot.com/2008/09/this-is-my-250th-post.html I did the border for this beach blanket, which I was given the center portion for. I also tried dyeing some yarn, but that was a total fail because it came out really ugly and I ended up throwing it out anyway. I did a more solid dyeing of a skirt, and dip-dyed another skirt. I meant to play with it some this summer, but ran out of time, so hopefully when it gets warm again, I'll be able to do some....I have some plans.
My best advice is to make sure you follow the directions, and use some quality dye. The stuff you get from Dharma Trading Co. is way better than any RIT dye from the craft store!
Dyeing was one of my big hobbies until recently. I love done a variety of methods, including low water immersion, space dyeing, tray dyeing, marble dyeing, gradients, rainbows...
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/SsQsFzeQF1I/AAAAAAAAA6Y/oeuRh02wsTA/s400/100_3109.jpg - gradient
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/SptIEvcKToI/AAAAAAAAA5g/YSio6_aFmEI/s400/100_3104.jpg - LWI
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/S4CM8HQK8vI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/LBl_5xNIFgs/s400/100_3172.jpg - in dye tray.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/S8U2JsV0_BI/AAAAAAAABA4/v9e-DZIN2rg/s400/100_3208.jpg - in applique
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/TQwg5q44PwI/AAAAAAAABRU/meQHFxBmNY8/s400/003.JPG - rainbows
http://bp2.blogger.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/SGQfDAEsGrI/AAAAAAAAAbc/kOHR1zaQE-U/s400/100_2409.jpg - space dyeing
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/TNZwSyJP1II/AAAAAAAABPc/r52VZyMwr1o/s400/005.JPG - rainbow
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/S8bCh-Ys8-I/AAAAAAAABB8/4kxtyiUtsms/s400/100_3211.jpg - mixed
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IIlWeYPyZYQ/SZVPNgNmcpI/AAAAAAAAAxk/xRf0JXrgOO0/s400/100_2791.jpg - marble
I still dye occassionally, especially solid colours for my daughter, but not nearly as much as I used to.
I did some dyeing (actually it was called 'Fabric Colouring' LOL) at the recent Australian Sewing Guild convention. http://nosilasews.blogspot.com/2011/09/convention-2011-wrap-up.html
I now have plans to try dyeing some knit and see if it works. Then I can make Tshirts in the colours I want!
It's one of those things that are in my queue.
I don't have a fear of it, I've used Rit before, but I don't have a lot of call to do so. When I eventually buy the 50 yards of silk, then I'll start dying (I do not need a ton of slips in white. Orange, black, lime..yes.)
I've only done a bit of the very basic solid color dye.
When I think about doing any other type of dyeing all I think about is the mess and trying to dispose of the dye bath!
Sounds very messy. Not something I have any interest in. I am not a big fan of batiks either.
I love to look at hand dyed fabrics, but in answer to your questions: no, no and no.
I never had a lot of luck with dying. I seem to have trouble getting a uniform colour, though the washing machine methods seem better.
My most successful dying has been the unintentional very red garment in a wash and ending up with lots of pink clothes. I'm always surprised by how evenly that turns out!
I've never tried hand dying fabric (other than tie-dying back in the 80s) but it was a common thing that was done on Project Runway this past season (more so than any other season).
In fact, in one episode one of the contestants lost her money while she was at Mood and so she had to rely on the change that fellow contests gave her. She only had enough to buy a few yards of Muslin - sso she dyed it, and if I'm not mistaken, she actually won. The judges just LOVED the color.
Whenever I dont like the color or look of fabric that I have I throw it in the washing machine with some dye. Usually turns out well.
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