Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Tuesday? Where did Monday go?

O My. I am definitely on California time. I just woke up at 8 am.
Yesterday? Uh...well I know I fixed my computer and answered all my emails, and stood Frieda up for coffee at Panera. That's what I get for making a date before a trip. I am forgiven and will get another chance with both girlfriends tomorrow.

Today though, I have work to do. And more dyeing info to post in The Lazy Dyer. I am writing it here first and then copying it all into the original link.

THE DYES I USE
(by Melody Johnson, age 57 1/2)
Yellow #1, #2, #3+#4 ( I mix those last two half and half)
Deep Orange #6
Fire Red #10
Fuschia #13
Turquoise #25
All of those are from Dharma Trading Company.
Then from Pro Chem I order FGF Blue, which is a Sabrecron brand, also procion, so it is just like the others, mixes well, and is very very intense. Also very expensive, but a tiny bit goes a long way.
I order my acid dyes from either place, for yarn.
I use only procion dyes on my silk and don't change a thing in my formulaes when I dye the silk. I treat it exactly the same as cotton, all the way through the process and into the fusing. NOTHING IS DIFFERENT FOR THE SILK. Really.
THE FABRIC I USE
(by Melody Johnson, see above)
400 M from Testfabrics.com in West Pittston PA. I have used this fabric for decades. Always works great.
Silk Charmeuse from Exotic Silks.com 11A is the catalog number. It is heavy and nice and always dyes up perfectly. I use a very hot iron, and have never had a problem.
Other fabrics that I have used that work fine:
Nature's Dyeable unbleached muslin from Roclon
Pimatex pfd from Kaufmann
Kona pfd from Kaufman
Print cloth from Dharma, and all their fabrics, silks, hemp, muslins etc. are all pfd.
While I love the look of sateen, it is a twill weave and therefore when used raw edge, the threads stick up quickly at the edge and that does not make me happy. So instead I use a plain weave silk. It turns out the silk is less expensive anyway, so there.
Again... I do not use salt, urea, or Synthrapol. I get my soda ash from the swimming pool supply place and presoak all my fabrics first.
I can't think of any more questions to answer. So go out there and dye! I will be all day.
PS. Think about dyeing wool yarn too. See Socks that Rock here.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:00 AM

    Greetings from Europe. I found your blog recently, you are a genius, did anyone ever tell you that, bet you didn't know.

    How is Jet the cat? If I had a cat like Jet waiting at home, I'd be afraid to come home.

    When I become rich(er) I will purchase your $300 bundle and your patterns. I LOVE YOUR WORK....btw, how do you machine quilt? is it all free-motion or do you have a fancy longarm quilter?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:29 PM

    I have a question--Should I pack all my dyes away, now that winter is coming? Maybe you have answered this before, if so, sorry! I dye in the cellar, and it's pretty chilly. I am way too messy to trust myself upstairs! Any suggestions?

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. thanks for giving more info on the dyes you use, etc. as always you are a very sharing person.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:25 PM

    thanks for posting this info - I've been pouring over the Dharma catalog trying to decide which dyes to purchase and whether I need all the 'extras' - now I can just order the Melody package....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:17 PM

    Mrs Mel, you're a GEM!! It was your "Lazy Dyer" info that broke my mind block that dying fabric as Too Hard - it's not!!!

    Thanks for adding even more info, muchly appreciated.

    ReplyDelete

Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com