help needed in dyeing pure cotton yarn?

Question

this is my first time in dyeing yarn. im using "sugar and cream" to dye. I followed the instruction on the box, but i researched the net and found out that the dye can wash out or the color being faded is there any details that im missing here?

Answer 1

Hi,

It sounds as though you are using Rit Dye...which I wouldn't...it is inexpensive but impermanent.

Here is a reputable supplier of everything to do with dyeing; I can recommend Procion MX dyes, which are the dyes that quilters and lots of others use for permanence on cotton.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3246-AA.shtml?lnav=dyes.html

Dharma also sells a retention agent called Retayne which works well.
As someone else suggested, you will need a fixative (normally soda ash, which is readily available as pool chemical).

Your library will have books about dyeing.

BTW, winding it around a plastic soda bottle works well.

Lori

Answer 2

Well, all dyes wash out a little bit the first couple times after you wash them and also most colors will fade after a lot of washings, especially very dark colored ones.
There are different sorts of dye and dyeing methods for animal fibers (wool) and plant fibers (cottons). Make sure you have the right kind. Even "RIT" dyes will dye cotton.

Just so you know. I'd Suggest that almost everything that's newly dyed get washed, the first couple of times, either alone or with something that you don't mind if it changes colors.

Also, I've never tried them, but there are these things that are supposed to keep dyes off other clothes in the wash and I've heard that some of them actually work pretty well. (Like, Shout makes something called color catchers? something like that.)

are you using sugar and cream dye's? or are you dying sugar and cream yarn? What dye are you using?

Answer 3

You can use a fixative called soda ash to open the fibres to receive and retain the dye.
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/sodaash.shtml