A colourful piece of fabric can be a beautiful addition to your wardrobe or home decor, such as curtains.
What’s more, dyeing fabrics can be heaps of fun if you know the proper steps. However, the process can seem troublesome and difficult if you are new to it. And even after hours of research and hard work, you may still end up with no fruitful result.
But, don’t worry, we’ve got your back. This article will talk about everything you need to know about dying new fabrics in beautiful colours that will last a long time.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s get on with it!
How To Dye Fabric
Step 1: Choosing The Right Fabric
The first step is to choose a suitable fabric for dyeing. On that note, white materials are usually easier to dye because they readily take up any colour.
But, you can also go for a coloured piece and treat it with any fabric-friendly bleach. That said, bleaching will lighten the fabric’s colour so that it can take up new colours during the dyeing process.
Step 2: Washing The New Fabric
Once you’ve picked a fabric of your choice, give it a good wash; washing the material will help you remove any dirt present on the fabric for an even result.
To do this, fill a bucket halfway with boiling water or hot tap water. Now, wash the fabric in the bucket gently, trying not to scrub too much as it can affect the fibres.
Step 3: Preparing The Dye Bath
When you have finished washing the new fabric, it’s time to prepare the dye bath to immerse the material. But before that, make sure to wear rubber gloves to avoid getting any colour on your hands.
Then comes the fun part — exercise your creativity by choosing and mixing colours. Add salt in the bath when dyeing cotton or linen fabrics as an added tip. The salt helps the material to take up the dye. Usually, a quarter cup of salt is added to a gallon of the dye bath. But, the amount of salt varies with the dye bath size.
Step 4: Treating The Fabric In The Dye Bath
After you’ve prepared the dye bath, thoroughly wet the fabric and immerse it in the bath. Then, with a wooden or stainless spoon, keep moving the fabric in the water to avoid an uneven result.
As a rule of thumb, keep the fabric in the dye bath for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring it the entire time. You want to allow it to take up more colour than you want in the end so that the colour doesn’t fade after washing.
Once the fabric has taken up the dye, remove it from the bath and rinse it simultaneously under warm and cold running water. Keep on rinsing it until the water runs clear. Finally, wash the newly dyed fabric in cold water and detergent and dry.
Dying Fabric For Beginners
After going through our guide, we hope you’ve got a better idea about dyeing fabrics. Follow our four easy steps, and you can get beautifully coloured and vibrant fabrics for your wardrobe or house.
You can research colours that go well together or use your imagination to get unique and attractive colour combinations. However, be careful while adding the amount of liquid dye in the dye bath — you don’t want your fabric to become too dark or too light.
And most importantly, remember to get creative and have fun.
