Articles
Dyeing Mini Fabrics
By Stephanie Sarsfield of
Sassy Bears and Fabrics
RIT dyes work well with nearly all fabrics. Even with 100% polyester, you may be
able to get some very nice pale shades if you start with white. I do not
recommend dying the imported synthetic furs. It is possible, but the risk of
damaging the fur/pile is not worth that chance.
Important tips:
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DO NOT WEAR YOUR FAVORITE CLOTHES! Wear an apron and/or old
clothes.
-
Keep some
bleach-cleaner close to clean up splashes right away.
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Move all
important or delicate items away from the area.
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Use rubber
gloves to keep your hands from turning brown, blue, red, etc.
-
RIT will dye
all natural fibers, plastic, nylon and wood.
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Fabric needs
to be wet to take the dye better. Pre-wash or rinse in the sink.
-
All mini
fabrics can be dried in the dryer. If you are only doing a few pieces you
may want to toss in some old, clean towels to help them tumble and not get
stuck to the back of the dryer.
-
Remember that
fabrics with a cotton backing may shrink after washing & drying (i.e.:
mohair, rayon)
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HAVE FUN MIXING YOUR OWN COLORS!
But, be sure to write down how much you used and what you did. If you really
like it, then you will be able to do it again. (example: 1 tsp. yellow + ½
tsp. dark brown, stir for 15 minutes)
If you only want to dye a few pieces (or even 1 piece), it is best to do it on
your stove:
-
Use an old pot that will NOT be used for food. The pot MUST be
stainless steel or enameled (with no chips or cracks). RIT dyes react badly
with regular metal pots. Save some money and get a pot at a second-hand shop
just for dyeing.
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Dye only as
many pieces that can freely move around in the pot. Do NOT pack it in. You
will get streaks and un-dyed areas.
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Fill pot ¾
full with water and set to high heat.
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Add small
amount of dye (the more dye, the darker the color) and mix to dissolve.
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When water
comes to boiling, turn to medium heat.
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Add WET
fabric.
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You must stir
constantly to get even dying of the fabric. Stir several minutes or until
you get the shade you like.
-
Remove from
pot and transfer to sink. Wash thoroughly.
-
Rinse several
times until water runs clear. Add a little fabric softener to final rinse if
desired.
-
Gently
squeeze out excess water and dry in dryer.
-
Clean any
splashes or spills with bleach.
If you plan on dying large amounts, then I suggest you do it in your washing
machine:
-
Set the water
level to the lowest setting.
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Set the water
temp. to the hottest setting.
-
Mix the dye
with 1-2 cups hot water and stir to dissolve.
-
Add dye-water
to machine and let it agitate a minute.
-
Add WET
fabric.
-
Let it
agitate for several minutes, or until the fabric is the shade you want.
(Remember that it will be lighter when it is washed out)
-
Run through
the rinse cycle as many times necessary to remove excess dye. Water should
be clear in the final rinse cycle. Add a little fabric softener to final
rinse if desired.
-
Dry in the
dryer.
-
You will need to clean your washing machine after dying!!
Run through 1 complete cycle with plain water and some bleach to remove all
dye. Use a scrub brush if necessary to get stains off the sides of the inner
tub. Make sure to clean the top and any splashes that got out.
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