DIY Fabric Dye: Machine Wash

The third and final method for dying fabric is the easiest and cleanest. It's great for when you're trying to dye a large amount of fabric. But you're least likely to get an exact color match when using this method. Be prepared to get a  much lighter, less saturated color when using this method.

What you'll need:
A wash machine
Fabric dye
Salt or Vinegar
Artcile to dye

Start by setting your machine to the hotest setting. I recommend also setting your machine to a small wash cycle. Add your salt and wait until it is fully disolved before adding your dye.

 

Once you're dye is well saturated in you wash, add your clothing- when your machine is finish filling you will want to pause your wash or if you can- set the wash cycle for a longer setting. Make sure your fabric is in the wash for a good 30 minutes at least before your machine is allowed to drain.

 

When your wash is finished, wash your clothes again in a cold setting and dry as normal.

 

 

And that's it!

 

DIY Fabric Dying: Stove Top

Continuing with dying fabrics, same dress- different method. As far as single article dying goes, this is my preferred method.
What you'll need:
Stove,
Large pot
Salt or vinegar
Fabric dye
Fabric or clothing

Start by filling a large pot with enough water for your clothing article to move around. Bring water to a boil. Add a cup of salt or vinegar depending on your clothing article.

 

Pre-mix your dye in 2 cups of hot water.

 

 

Bring your pot down to a simmer and add your dye mixture in.

 

 

Wait about a minute for your dye to become well mixed in your pot before adding your fabric.

 

 

Add your fabric in. This time I didn't use rubber bands and I pre-soaked my skirt.

Place your skirt in as far as you want your dye to go to begin with.

 

 

Over a period of minutes, raise your garment further and further out of the water.

 

 

After about 25 minutes remove your garment and rinse it. Start by rinsing it with warm water and slowly work towards a cool water rinse.

 

 

Wash your garment seperatly and dry as normal.

 

 

 

The end result of this method was much better and just what I needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Dying Fabric: Bucket dying

Ok so I thought I'd take a break from sewing DIYs to something that anyone can do no matter what your DIY Skill level is. I'm going to be covering how to dye fabric by bucket, stove and machine. They are all fairly similiar in the steps but they all have different results and should be used for different types of dying.

The most common way to dye fabric is by bucket. This is my least favorite way to dye, I don't really recomend using this method. It's very messy and the results aren't always that great.

So then you want to know why I or anyone would use this method. You would use this method of dying if you needed to do a special effect like ombre or tye dying. Still, it's really messy and not always going to turn out right.

What you'll need-
a bucket or tub,
salt or vinegar depending on your fabric.
fabric dye- I recommend RIT dye.
Hot water
and whatever you want to dye.

 

I'm ombre dying a dress. Which I love but is pretty plain. I researched how others ombre dyed their fabric, and most tied off their garment with rubber bands. I wasn't sure about doing this but I went ahead and did it anyway. And because my fabric was cotton I chose to use salt as my staying agent.

 

Now I didn't take pictures of everything so bare with me. You'll want to start by filling your tub with hot water and disolve your salt in said water. I only did about 2 cups of water to 1 cup of salt.

I then added my dye. Mix your dye and salt until well disolved in your water.

 

 

 

Because I'm ombreing my dress I started with just 4 cups of hot water and submerged the bottom layer of my dress.

 

As I dipped my dress further into my tub, I added an additonal 2 cups of water.

 

 

After about 25 minutes you want to rinse out your fabric. You should start by rinsing it in warm water and slowly work towards cold water. Then wash your garment seperatly in cold water.

 

When I finished with this method my dress appeared more tie dyed than ombre.

 

 

Not the look I was going for.