raptureready

Has anyone tried dying their own fabric to use in quilts? I checked out a "how to" and even Dharma Trading Co.'s website to order the dyes but I'm still not sure if I want to try it. I'm thinking I might like to in the future and would like to hear others thoughts on it. I think it would be really cool to have fabrics that no one else has or could even purchase. There's a lot that goes into it though, no wonder the prices to buy it are so high.

kathy

I dye a lot of my fabrics, especially the backs, if I get a good deal on wide WOW I jump on it, fact I have a piece I dyed yellow last nite for a crib quilt. Different fabrics take the color differently. I'm doinf different colors on unbleached muslin now, the dull look is a bit old fashioned looking. I go for the mottled look because it takes a lot of movement to be sure it's all an even dye. Over 2 yds is a bit hard to handle (wring) but you may have a helper, it IS fun but it is messy too.

DebraK

yes, and I love it. Dharma is a great company, with great products.

It's a little daunting to get started, but really the process is not hard at all.

amma

I haven't seen the WOW dyed before, can you post a picture of how it looks please?

ckcowl

I LOVE dyeing my own fabrics, used to be every quilt i made had at least a little bit of my own dyed fabric in it...i have not dyed any since we moved to our new house 3 years ago (or was it 4? boy time flies) anyway...i have run out of most of my supplies and kind'a had the itch to get busy and do some dyeing; lucky me a lqs is having a dyeing class in a couple weeks. i can go dye to my hearts content and don't have to spend a bunch on stocking up yet.
if you have never dyed fabrics before try to find a class somewhere to give it a try, it is rather costly to get started (of course once you do purchase the dyes and soda ash it does go a long way. I do believe Dharma still carries (beginners) starting kits, you could try one of those without putting too much into it, could even try batik-ing your own, the starter batik kit is pretty sweet, we had lots of fun with that.
i do recommend a class though if you can find one.

Lori S

You may want to take a look at the Pro-Chem web site. They are really really helpful in getting started, and can guide you through some of the choices to make regarding what type of dye etc. Lots of good info on the web site. They sell specifically to people who hand dye.
http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/
think about fabric painting as an alternative , you can get similiar results.

littlehud

I want to but haven't worked up the nerve yet.

leaha

YES I dye and Paint a lot of my fabrics. (I have pictures in my webshots.) I love dyeing my own fabric. It is just another part of the creative process of making my quilts for me.
All the fabrics in my dancing mugs quilt (my avatar) are my own hand dyed fabrics.

justwannaquilt

Where do you all find your "recipes" or do you just mix until you get what you want?

leaha

I used to paint so I had a background of how to mix colors, I just wing it, but if you want to repeat a dye keep records!! All colors are from 3 basic colors. I mix as little as 2 or 3 mm of one color with another to get what I want.