Dip-dyeing

frugglewump

I have managed to get bleach on my skirt :mad:. I've read through the old threads & the dylon site so I know the best bet is to bleach & re-colour. It's quite a large section as the cotton is very thin & it spread quickly even though i waashed it off immediately.

All the dye instructions are for a uniform colour and the skirt is one of those dip-dye ones that's darker at the bottom than the top. Has anyone on here done that sort of dying?

I have 2 theories so far based on hand-dying:
- put it all in & remove from the top a bit at a time starting when top is the lighter colour required.
- put the bottom in first and slowly add until all in & remove when top is the right colour.

Opinions would be appreciated on which method is easier or likely to give better results?

black-saturn

Thinking back to when I did O level Textile design some 20 years ago we did dip dying. From what I remember you had to do it outside next to the washing line and use a washing up bowl. Dress yourself in old clothes or black ones where any spills won't show up. Hold the skirt perfectly vertical and dip it in up to the level you want. Pull it out again and then hang it straight on the washing line to dry. So that the whole process is done in one movement, if you see what I mean?

frugglewump

black-saturn wrote:

So that the whole process is done in one movement, if you see what I mean?

Ah - thanks for jogging the memory. I do remember doing things like that.

Hmm - all the pack instructions say to agitate in the dye solution for 15mins then leave to soak for 45. I suppose for dip-dying you just repeat the dipping until you've got the shades you want.

black-saturn

I would literally keep moving the item half dipped in the water for 15 minutes and then stand still for 45 minutes. Or is there any way you can put it on a table and pin it to the line so it's hanging in just the right position for that amount of time?

frugglewump

black-saturn wrote:

I would literally keep moving the item half dipped in the water for 15 minutes and then stand still for 45 minutes. Or is there any way you can put it on a table and pin it to the line so it's hanging in just the right position for that amount of time?

I think I'm going to dye the skirt turquoise all over then make up a cobalt blue batch and put the bottom half in the dye & just briefly dip the middle so there's a graduation of colour. It's a good thing these dyes are only £2 each.

Edited to add:
The dylon colour removal stuff smells like vanilla. Not bad at all - i was expecting something horrible.

frugglewump

Well now I have a violently turquoise skirt - the 2nd dye will have to wait until tomorrow.

As an added bonus I now know where my rubber gloves leak. My middle finger on my left hand is green, as is the thumb on my right hand.

Sarahsaver

Just hang it on a line or a pole with the bottom hanging in the dye.

annie-c

frugglewump wrote:

As an added bonus I now know where my rubber gloves leak. My middle finger on my left hand is green, as is the thumb on my right hand.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I can't help with the dye question, but wanted to let you know how much your rubber glove issue has made me laugh xx

frugglewump

annie-c wrote:

I can't help with the dye question, but wanted to let you know how much your rubber glove issue has made me laugh xx

You should see it now. Today I have been in t-shirt & shorts plus barefoot all day. So (remember that i did try to clean it off):

- both of my hands are completely blue on the palm side - this stuff won't wash off but seems to be spreading.
- the tops of my feet are blue where i've rubbed at itches
- i have blue backs of the knees where i scratched my escema before i caught myself

The only thing that hasn't gone blue is my face. I don't want to put bleach on the stains as my skin is very sensitive. It's a good thing the sheets & quilt cover happened to be blue already.

black-saturn

Just had a brainwave. I wonder if you could paint it on where you wanted it (on the skirt, not on you).

frugglewump

Just finished the machine wash to remove most of the excess dye. It's come out a lovely colour:
http://pics.livejournal.com/purple_ellie/pic/00077630/

I'm not sure I want to mess with changing the bottom to darker blue now.