How'd we do this?
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Tommy and I have had a few emails/comments asking for more info on the way we did the dyeing shown on our blogs. I have a link in the sidebar called The Lazy Dyer. It tells all, or pretty much all. The directions will at least get you over the hump and ready to start the discovery process yourself. I recommend that you get the free catalog from Dharma Trading for more detailed information on dye numbers etc.
Next I recommend that you order plenty of fabric (400M from Testfabrics). We dyed about 50 yards in one afternoon, so don't be stingy with yourself. 100 yards is a minimum of what you should have to start. Go in with a friend who wants to learn too.
It is a big expense to learn how to dye, but it is still less expensive to do this at home than it is to take a workshop + buy all the necessary stuff.
I am not kidding about not using salt, urea, or synthrapol.
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I have to leave gorgeous sunny Florida today and fly to New Jersey for the Quilt Fest of New Jersey. I will be spending the majority of today on airplanes. Because I ordered my tickets a second too late, I fly from Ft. Meyers to Chicago's OHare for a layover before I catch my connecting flight to New Jersey. I have knitting and magazines for my 7.5 hours of travel before I get to the final airport. Then a shuttle drive to the hotel and bing! go to sleep.
One more rollerblade session this morning and then I pack it all up.
I had the MOST WONDERFUL TIME at Chez Tommy's and she is a great great hostess.
Here's what we did:
Rollerblading, pool soaking, gourmet cooking, drawing lessons, dyeing yarn, knitting stuff, wine slurping, blogging, shopping (only groceries!), Housewalk drooling, TV and dvd watching (Yay! Drew and Cheryl!!), shelling, biking, car touring, golfcart riding, art show opening, one martini drinking, sand flea catching, boating and finally a teeny bit of quiltmaking.
How's that for a perfect girly girl vacation? It was tremendo. THANK YOU TOMMY.
Loveamundo,
Mel
Now, get back to work!! You were having too much fun and I think Dave is going over the edge!! ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Melody,
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try it your way. After all, it isn't hard to see how wonderful your fabric is.. I do have a question though. When you do your dye painting, you soak your fabric in soda ash water.. lay it flat, and then each squirt bottle is 2 cups with one Tlb dye unless it is Fuschia?
Do you ever have problems with it bleeding? Or do you wash it until no more dye shows up in the water. I ask, because I had a learning experience after spending months piecing a miniature flying geese quilt and having the blue fabric that I dyed, bleed on the lighter colors.. totally my fault..must not have washed it out enough. Thanks for sharing what you have learned!!
Hi Melody, I found the site for TestFabrics and am very interested in ordering some. What is the article number for the fabric you get from them? Also, does one have to be a registered business to order from them?
ReplyDeleteThank you for being so generous.
Hi Melody, I tried the Mel&Tommy method and I think I had the same experience as Teri. Luckily its only a small piece. Hope you're alright in the wilds of NJ-I can't believe how lucky you and Dave are to have found each other. He writes short stories and you make fab art. What a team...Have fun, Dee
ReplyDelete400M is the fabric to order from Testfabrics.
ReplyDeleteWash out your dyed fabric in the hottest water possible to prevent bleeding. Twice if necessary.