Supply List
Cotton Dyeing Basics
Marjie McWilliams, Instructor
Dyeing is a chemical process. Unlike other quilt classes where you can easily make substitutions, you should follow the supply list as closely as possible. It is especially important that you have the correct fabric and dyes. Your dyes cannot be more than two years old. Read the list carefully. Soda ash is not the same as baking soda. Using the wrong supplies means you will get poor results.
Supplies marked with an asterisk (*) are available online at these fine stores:
- www.dharmatrading.com
- www.prochemical.com/
- www.jacquardproducts.com
- www.gsdye.com (Canada)
- www.maiwa.com (Canada)
- www.kemtex.co.uk (UK)
- www.countrydyeworks.com.au (Australia)
- www.kraftkolour.com.au (Australia)
- www.quiltundtextilkunst.de/ (Germany)
- www.zijdelings.com (Netherlands)
Class Supply Sources - Links to online sites outside the US where supplies, especially those which are art-related, may be purchased.
You will need:
* Procion MX powdered dyes. Do NOT buy liquid Procion! I recommend that you buy a total of 8 ounces of powdered dye for each color. You can buy a minimum of TWO 2 ounce jars of each color if you want to be on the conservative side, but if you plan on dyeing more than what is in each lesson (or will be taking more of my dyeing classes), buy the 8 ounce jars.
Here are the names and numbers used to identify the colors at these major companies.
|
Dharma Sky Blue #26 |
Pro-Chem
PRO MX- Basic Blue 400 |
|
Jacquard Medium Blue - PMX072 |
GSDyes Red #412 |
| Maiwa Brilliant Yellow
|
Kemtex
Bright Royal MX - 2R |
* About 9-10 yards of unbleached 100% cotton muslin. Do not buy any blends or muslins with wrinkle guard or perma-press.
Warning: You may be tempted to use muslin from your stash, or something inexpensive in the sale bin at your local fabric store. Many cotton muslins these days are blends or have perma-press or wrinkle guard finishes. These additives will block the bond that the dye makes with the fibers resulting in pale colors or colors that will fade. Be certain that your cotton is pure. If you would like to order the same muslin I use at Fabric Designs, you may order it online at www.fabricdesigns.com. Click on Student Supplies. The order form is at the bottom of the page. You may order 5 or 10 yard pieces. It will be shipped out to you immediately via Priority Mail. If outside of the US, contact me about shipping fees.
Later in the class you may want to experiment and toss in some samples of what you already have or try the cottons called PFD (Prepared For Dyeing), but please realize that all of the recipes given are geared to the cream or natural base color of 100% cotton unbleached muslin.
*Soda Ash- 1 box (3lbs.7 oz) of Arm and Hammer soda ash. It is in a yellow box and can be purchased at the grocery store or online. It is sometimes called Washing Soda. This product causes your colors to be brighter and completes the chemical reaction.
3-5 plastic buckets or pails that can hold 1 1/2 - 4 gallons of water. You can use old plastic dry wall buckets, juice pitchers, big laundry detergent buckets, old laundry tubs, plastic storage containers, wastebaskets. They can be galvanized, but NOT aluminum or copper.
It will be helpful to have at least Eight of the larger plastic yogurt containers, cottage cheese containers, deli containers, cut off milk cartons or jars with large mouth openings. We will need each of these to hold 1-2 cups dye plus up to a half yard of wet fabric.
- plain salt. Buy one box. Make sure to buy PLAIN salt. Do not buy iodized salt.
- access to water
- old towels
- paper towels
- 1 box of large plastic garbage bags. Large plastic trash bags are helpful covers for your workspace. I cut off the bottoms and open up the side to create a large rectangle to place over my table, over the furniture, or on the floor.
- measuring spoons (cannot be used for food after being used for dyeing).
- measuring cups to be used for dyeing only
- Ironing board and iron
- Synthrapol (optional) detergent for removing excess dye
- rubber gloves
- *dust masks - you can find these at any hardware store, or online. Buy the package of 6 with the bendable metal clip over the bridge of the nose and a rubber band that slips around your head.
- a package of coffee filters, a pair of old panty hose or some knee highs. These are to help filter the dyes if there are dissolving or speckling problems. I like to use the Melitta #6 cone filters but the best filters seem to be the nylons.
- access to a timer or clock
- notebook and pencil for writing down your dyeing details (optional).
Work space where you can get messy and leave dyeing fabrics for 1-24 hours undisturbed.
Warning: Do NOT dye in pots, pans or buckets that are aluminum or copper as there is a chemical reaction that will affect your colors.
I prefer a place to hang the fabrics to dry but you can use your dryer.
Questions? Email me: marjie@fabricdesigns.com
OUTLINE
Lesson One
- Safety and supply information
- Preparing the fabric
- Mixing the dyes
- Making solid colors using vat dyeing techniques with the three primary colors
Lesson Two
- Learn to use partial immersion techniques
- Make mottled secondary colors
- Learn to keep dye records so you can reproduce colors
Lesson Three
- How to make five step gradations ranging in intensity from pastel to bold
Lesson Four
- How to dye the full spectrum of colors
Lesson Five
- Over dyeing colors
- How to fix mistakes
You may check the Class Supply Glossary in the Library for generic descriptions of products that may be sold under various names in different countries.