Monday, June 22, 2009

This didn't go so well....

I tried to dye some old t-shirts yesterday using some RIT dye. It didn't turn out as wonderful as I imagined. I think I might have diluted the dye too much, didn't dissolve the dye enough before adding the clothes so it left little specks, and I probably didn't use hot enough water. 


Now I've got a bunch of ho-hum blue tank tops.


Dyeing take two. Any tips for dyeing clothing?!

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6 comments:

  1. SerenaJune 22, 2009 at 5:44 PM

    I used the RIT dye to dye my couch slipcover and I used the washer. I think the instructions were on the box, but I filled the washer, added the dye and then the fabric. And I was dying my slipcover black, so if I hadn't done it good, it would have been gray. But it turned out a deep and even black. So I would suggest trying the washer instead of a bucket. It moves the fabric around too so you get it even and you can set the water to hot or warm or whatever you want.

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  2. korysharJune 22, 2009 at 6:20 PM

    I've never dyed anything, but over at Joy's Hope (http://www.joyshope.com/)she dyes stuff all the time, even her girl's bedspreads. I'm sure she'd offer help.

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  3. whiskerchaseJune 23, 2009 at 9:12 AM

    Your problem is using RIT dye. The stuff is just not worth your money or your time. Next time use Dylon. It is sold in Walmart craft section, Hobby Lobby by the thread, Joann Fabrics, and I am sure many more places. It is cheep and the colors are great. If you want a real professional look you want to use Procion dyes such as the ones available here http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3796-AA.shtml?lnav=dyes.html

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  4. AnneJune 23, 2009 at 1:25 PM

    Try adding salt (a lot of it) to the water/dye to intensify the color. This is what my sister does and it's always worked for her.

    --Anne

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  5. ShariJune 23, 2009 at 2:49 PM

    Hmm, that's the color of the skirt I am currently making my kid...don't knock it! ;-) I used to take a fiber arts class in art school and recall a shibori dye technique we did. so if you can't make rich colors you can at least make it interesting. Look it up on google! We used to use pure pigments, not sure where you can find that....

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  6. OlyaJuly 7, 2009 at 8:39 PM

    I'd also recommend Dharma dyes. They have amazing selection of colors. Also when you mix your dye, it's a good idea to strain the mixture through a coffee filter or something similar (I use paper towels when I have nothing else on hand, a bit messy but doable). Check out Dharmatrading.com, they have a lot of great suggestions and instructions on how to do different types of dyeing.

    If all that is too overwhelming, then I'd suggest using Dylon over RIT, it gives better color and also isn't as toxic as RIT is ;)

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