Fabric Dyeing Questions

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February Questions

Hi,
My name is Giovanni Paniagua and I am in the 6th grade and I am doing a science project on different fabrics. I need to research which fabrics hold the dye better and at different temperatures. I will use cotton, polyester, acetate, and one that is mixed. So if you could help me I would like that very much. If you could email my mom back that would be nice. Thanks.
Dear Giovanni,
this sounds like a fun project. Get a copy of the paper catalog from www.dharmatrading.com & read all the info carefully. You can also look at the information available at www.prochemical.com. Good luck!
Jennifer

have purchased sheer white nylon curtains for 4 rooms across the front of my house. I am really disappointed and feel that cream/ivory would have been much better. would you have any 'dyeing' suggestions. many thanks. Kathryn. (from Bathurst)
Kathryn,
If you can't take back the sheers, you could possibly dye them using the acid dyes available at www.dharmatrading.com. The acid dyes work in very hot water, either in the washer or on top of the stove. Get a catalog from Dharma & read their instructions. good luck,
Jennifer

Dear Jennifer:
I purchase a pair of ultrasuede pants--they are totally cotton lined and are quite heavy. Really warm for our Northern winters. However, somehow I managed to get grease stains or something on them. When I washed them according to instructions, the stains did not come out. What can I do to save these pants. Please reply. Thanking you in advance.
JoJo
Jojo,
A quick search at google turned up this information page: http://www.ultrasuede.com/about/care.html. Ultrasuede is designed to be very easy care & most stains should come out with mild detergent. I am particularly fond of Stainstick. It's mild & hasn't hurt anything yet that I've tried it on. Extra good for grease & protein stains. Try treating the spots with Stainstick & wash by hand first. See if that does the trick.
Good luck,
Jennifer

What type of dye is appropriate for dyeing velvet?
Also, what procedure should I use for dyeing the velvet just a simple solid color (light lime green)?
Kelly,
you can dye velvet that is rayon and silk with the reactive dyes available at www.dharmatrading.com. This is the crucial part - it has to be the rayon & silk velvet. Other fiber content will not take the dye.

I dye silk/rayon velvet all the time with great results. It's easy in the washer. Read the instructions in the Dharma catalog & write me if you have further questions.

Have fun,
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,
After having read the question and answer portion of your page, I am encouraged to ask advice from you. Initially, as a neophyte, I would like to learn how to dye a beige natural gauze cotton fabric I got from China. I would like to dye them in different colors, some pastels and some vibrant colors. Then I would like to hand paint or silk screen my designs of nature (seashells, starfishes, etc.)on top of the dyed fabrics, but would like my designs to have a faded ethereal effect, not defined lines. The next step after learning the first two tecniques, is how to produce the same designs in commercial quantity.

I am now in my golden year and at the crossroad of my career, having been in the family house construction business for so long,. My real passion as a little girl to design clothes, garments, was put on hold, in as much that all my lifetime was spent on family. This time with help from friends and people like you, I would like to boldly step forward and nurture this passion I once had. I am actually excited to try this and launch it soon! I would appreciate your advice. I checked out the site of Dharma Trading, however, they have no outlet here in my country, Philippines.
I look forward to learning from the master.
Sincerely,
Lili
Dear Lili,
I applaud & support your efforts to pursue your childhood creative dreams!

The questions you pose are vast & long & alas, I don't know the answers to all of them. You may have to consult with quite a few "masters" or maybe invent some techniques yourself.

Start at the beginning & find a source for reactive dyes (that are available at Dharma Trading & also at www.prochemical.com). Experiment with your fabric until you can produce the colors that you want. Search on google, yahoo, & askjeeves for the fabric painting technique that you want. Join some fabric painting lists & see what you can learn there. Try different kinds of paints & techniques.

I don't do any fabric painting myself & so I am unfamiliar with the exact technique that you will need to get the effect that you want. You will need to experiment.

Once you get all that semi-perfected, you can move on to talking to others about commercial expansion. Good luck & many blessings!
Jennifer

Hi...I like to work with alot of kinds of fabrics...But i need to know how i go about dying faux fur for making stuffed animals..I have done some research but still haven't found out how to go about dying the fur...Could u possibly help me with this little problem...Have a good day...Thank you for your assistance in this matter..Hear from you soon..
Cheryl
I am sorry, this kind of fabric can't be dyed. YOu'll have to settle for what you can find!
Jennifer

I recently washed a green robe, that I had washed before, without incident with some blue denim shirts. You quessed it ,this time it ran onto the shirts. How do I remove these blotchs of green from the shirts? By the the way they are cotton.
Thank You
Tina
Dear Tina,
Our local Hancock fabric store sells a product that purports to remove this kind of coloring. I can't vouch for it, I have never tried it. I don't know the name of the product either, sorry. This is the only thing I know that you can try. This sort of laundry mistake is tough. Good luck,
Jennifer

Dear Dizzy,
I would like to redeemed all my black pants, where do I buy the reactive dye?
Look at both the reactive dyes & the industrial dyes at www.dharmatrading.com. Read all their instructions & suggestions. have fun!
Jennifer

 

You can ask Jennifer questions at dizzylettuce@Fabrics.net.

Jennifer Thompson Miller: I love my work in beautiful textiles, color, trim, and design! I am a devoted student of fashion history and love vintage and vintage-inspired looks. For many years, my main focus was fashion sewing, using natural fibers in beautiful colors. In recent years, much to my delight, I have learned color mixing and silk dyeing. This has added a vibrant, versatile dimension to my fashion design.

I learned design and needlework from my mother and grandmother, and I am very grateful for their inspiration and instruction. Some of my earliest memories are spending time in the fabric store, while my mother designed and picked out fabrics for glamorous outfits. From the age of ten, my mother and other fashion-conscious ladies would ask my opinions on fabrics that they were combining.

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