iDye Natural with the Washing Machine Method

iDye comes in two different forms, iDye Natural, and iDye Poly. iDye Natural may be used either in the washing machine or on the stove top. Today's post deals with iDye Natural and the washing machine method. (iDye Poly, and the stove top method will be covered in an upcoming post by guest blogger Alex Preston)

iDye Natural is our simplest dye to work with. iDye Natural works with all 100% natural fibers, whether they are cellulose fibers or protein fibers, including cotton, linen, rayon, or silk., It comes pre-measured in a soluble dye packet, which will dye up to 2-3 pounds of dry fabric. The washing machine method works well for most colors, however, we recommend the stove top method for darker colors or increased vibrancy. Deep, dark blacks, for instance, are best acheived with the high heat of the stove top method.

The washing machine method can be done in three simple steps. The key to success for all iDye projects is to maintain high temperatures for prolonged periods and to allow enough room for the fabric to move freely in the dye bath.

1. First, gather your materials.

 

You'll need the item(s) you would like to dye, a packet of iDye Natural, and a cup of non-iodized salt (for cotton, linen, or rayon) or 1/3 cup of white vinegar (for silk). In this case, I am dyeing a pair of white 100% cotton pants, so I needed 1 cup of non-iodized salt, and one packet of iDye. Note: if you haven't already washed the items you are going to dye, be sure to wash them once, prior to dyeing. 

*Just for fun, I grabbed some Color Magnet, and stenciled on a small heart on to one of the pockets.

For best results: 

Dissolve the packet of iDye in two cups of very hot water before adding it to your machine. Dissolve the salt or vinegar in a quart of hot water as well. This will help maximize your fabric's exposure to the dye within the allotted wash cycle. This will also help prevent any dye from clumping in your washing machine, which may cause mottled results. Pre-wet your garment(s), and avoid pouring the dye and salt/vinegar directly onto the fabric. This will ensure an even application of dye to the garments you are dyeing. If you have a top-loading machine, take advantage of your ability to add the garments to the washer after the washer has filled with water and the dye has been thoroughly dissolved. If you have a front-loader, introduce the dye through the detergent drawer once the tank has filled with water.

2. Set your washer. 

Select the hottest setting and the longest wash cycle possible. Ideally your wash cycle will run for at least 50-60 minutes of dye time. You may need to manually extend the wash cycle to achieve this. Every machine is different, check the user manual to be sure.

3. Wash and Dry 

Here is the result. Notice anything?

The threads are still white! Most commercially made garments are sewn with polyester thread, even if the garment is labeled 100% cotton. Alex's post on blended fabrics will cover this in greater detail.

What about the Color Magnet? If you remember, I stenciled a small heart on one of the pockets using color magnet on to one of the pockets. Flipping to the pocket on the opposite side, you'll see that my heart showed up just great! The area where I stenciled on the Color Magnet attracted more dye, and appears darker.

 

To help retain the color intensity of your dye, consider washing your garment with iDye Fixative. Once your project is complete, you may wish to run an empty wash cycle in your machine to ensure that all excess dye has been removed. Some may choose to add a cup of bleach to this cycle as well. 

For more information about using iDye, see our full instructions on our website. Check back next week when we share a tutorial on using the stovetop method and iDye Poly to dye polyester fibers, as well as blends of synthetic and natural fibers.

Dye-I-Y with Jacquard Products: Which Dye Goes On Which Fiber?

Today we continue our Dye-I-Y Series with a two part introduction to the most commonly used fibers and dyes. First we discuss how to categorize the fiber that you are dyeing. Then we introduce our four most commonly used dyes while addressing our most frequently asked question about dyes; which dye is best for which fiber? This series is intended for first time and beginning dyers. Experienced dyers, we invite you to add your input in the comments section below!

There are three main things to consider when selecting the dye you are going to use:

1. Which type of fiber are you dying? 

For our purposes, we divide our fabrics into 5 different categories:

Cellulose Fibers are plant based fibers, such as cotton, linen or rayon.
Protein Fibers are animal based fibers such as silk or wool.
Natural Fibers are any natural fiber, whether cellulose fibers or protein fibers.
Synthetic Fibers man made fibers such as polyester or nylon.
Blended Fibers are a mixture of any of the above fibers.
 
2. What dye method works best for with the time and resources you have available? 

In situations where more than one dye is appropriate for the fiber you are working with, often times the next deciding factor for someone who is new to dyeing will be which method will work best with your available resources.

For example, if you are choosing between the stovetop method and washing machine method and you don't have a large pot on hand, you might opt for the washing machine method. Conversely, if you didn't have access to a washing machine, you might elect to do the stovetop method. Depending on the fiber you are dyeing you may not have a choice. For example dyes that require a great deal of heat to fix (such as iDye Poly) will require a stovetop method.

3. How important is permanence and longevity?

Last but not least, quality is a very important factor for every dyer.Your selection may sometimes come down to a decision between quality and convenience. For example, if you are dyeing cotton, you have a choice between the convenience of iDye which comes in a pre-measured packet, and the vibrancy of Procion MX Dye, which must be measured out, and used with soda ash. The Procion MX dye will offer more permanence, but will take additional steps to complete. 

Here is an introduction to our four most commonly used dyes: 

Please note, this is meant as a general overview. Different methods may have different materials requirements, so please be sure to read the full instructions before you proceed.

Procion MX:

Most people choose Procion MX dye for cellulose fibers because it offers the most vibrant colors and has the best permanence. This dye that fixes without the use of heat, which makes it one of the easiest dyes to use. Procion MX dye is fixed with Soda Ash, whether you pre-soak your garments in soda ash before applying dye, or you mix it directly in to your dye bath. See full instructions for more details. Procion MX dye is also one of our most versatile dyes, with countless methods. It's best known use is for Tie Dye. The Procion MX dyes are what we use in our Tie Dye Kits.

Use it on: Cellulose fibers, such as cotton, linen, hemp, or rayon.

Methods: Tie dye, immersion dyeing, washing machine method to name a few. See the full instructions for additional suggestions. 

Additional Materials You May Need: Soda ash, non-iodized salt, synthrapol, dyeset concentrate, iDye fixative.

Other Uses: Silk screening, batiking,  can also be used on protein fibers and even wood.

Full Instructions: Procion MX Instructions   

iDye Natural:

iDye is our easiest to use dye. It comes in pre-measured dissolvable packets, and doesn't require a Soda Ash fixer, making it extremely user friendly. As an added convenience, many of our iDye Natural colors can be used with the washing machine method. For darker or more vibrant colors, we do recommend using the stovetop method. See the link below for full instructions. For increased permanence, we recommend using the iDye Fixative.

Use it on: Any natural fiber, including cellulose and/or protein fibers.

Methods: Stove top or washing machine method.

Additional Materials You May Need: Non-iodized salt, white vinegar

Full Instructions: iDye Natural Instructions

iDye Poly: 

iDye Poly is the only dye we offer for synthetic fibers, which are very difficult to dye. iDye Poly requires a very high temperature to achieve good color so the stovetop method is essential for success. It works on polyester and nylon fabrics, but it is also used for dyeing solid items such as RC car parts, frisbee discs, and items printed with 3D printers. 

Use it on: Polyester, nylon. (will not work on acrylic)

Methods: Stove top method only.

Additional Materials You May Need: None. Can be blended with iDye Natural for blended fabrics.

Full Instructions: iDye Poly Instructions

Acid Dye:

Acid dyes are meant for protein fibers, and are best used with the stovetop method. Acid dyeing can be particularly satisfying. If you get your dye to fabric ratio just right, all of the dye will be absorbed in to your fabric, leaving you with a clear dye bath!

Use it on: Protein fibers such as silk or wool. 

Methods: Stove top, washing machine, flowable paint, and  silk screening methods.

Additional Materials You May Need: White vinegar, synthrapol.

Full Instructions: Acid Dye Instructions

Next up, we'll begin a series of tutorials for each of our dyes, starting with iDye Natural! Got questions? Leave them in the comments below!

For more information, consider reading our posting in our dye forums. 

Another excellent resource is professional dyer Paula Burch. We recommend starting with her FAQ section.

Dye-I-Y with Jacquard Products: Top Three Things To Remember About Dyes

Spring is here and that means dyeing season has officially begun!  Today we are kicking off a series of dye tutorials we are calling Dye-I-Y. Once we cover the basics about dye, we'll explore some of the more popular dyeing techniques. Many of our customers are seasoned professionals, so these posts will be oriented more for our beginners and first time dyers. We invite any experienced dyers to add their own tips and tricks in the comments below!

Before we dive in to this series, please note that all of the instructions can be found on our website, under the corresponding product heading. Materials Safety Data Sheets, or MSDS Sheets, are available under the support tab on our website, located here. Now, without further ado, here are the Top Three Things To Remember About Dye:

1. Dye is transparent.

It helps to think of the dye as a colored lens or filter which you apply over the existing color. This means if you are not starting with a white or very light fabric, you will need to take the base color into account when you apply your dye. It's impossible to predict the exact hue you will achieve without perfoming a controlled test, but generally one would expect that yellow dye on a blue fabric would yield green, whereas yellow dye on a black fabric would likely not show up at all. Following this logic, you'll soon realize that there is no such thing as white dye. Some dyers like to joke that there is white dye - it's called "water."

2. Dye goes on all fibers differently.

The only way to know for sure is to test it. There are many variables that can affect your outcome, some of which are impossible to predict. The method used, time in the dye bath, temperature of the bath, and the amount of room in the dye bath are just some of the factors that can affect the dye job. The fiber itself can also affect the end result. Sometimes there is a treatment on the fiber that isn't apparent from the garment tag, for example. This is why testing (and prewashing) is so important.

3. Always practice good housekeeping.

Good housekeeping is a dyer's term for best practices. Carefully follow all of the safety instructions presented for each dye. Avoid inhalation of dye in powdered form. Keep the tools you use for dyeing separate from those that you prepare food with. Second hand stores and a Dollar Store are the best resource for finding pots, measuring spoons, buckets, grates and other tools to use for your dyeing projects.

Now that you are familiar with the basics, check back later this week for our second installment in this series, which will explain which type of dyes will work best on which fibers. Got any questions? Leave your questions (or your tips!) below. We may share them in an upcoming post!