Dying shirts w/ Dharms: Help me, please. QUICK!

[sahmlamar]

Ok, so I bought some dyes in fiber reactive dyes for cotton shirts in the co-op and some soda ash fixer.

I thought the dyes would come with instructions. But, alas, they had none.

So I went on the website tonight looking for instructions.
I found this about tub dying.
http://www.dharmatrading.com/info/vat_dye.html

Anyway, I thought it'd be as simple as using dylon, but with better dyes.
Now I'm so lost! All I want is a solid color (or slightly mottled shirt - like scruch method or LWI results in).

1. Do I soak the shirts before in soda ash? If so, how do I make sure I'm at a 10.5 ph?
2. When using a washer, how do I make sure my water is on agitate for an hour w/o the water draining?
3. Is there any easier method than this?
4. Where to get "sythrapol"? And do I really NEED it? (because I didn't get it, or non-iodized salt either.)

I am leaving on a trip on Wed morning. I wanted to do these this weekend, because I need to embroider them BEFORE we leave. Please help me. I am so confused! It's been years since I've done any chemistry and all that nonsense on the Dharma site has me going wacko!
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[pmcgary]

My disclaimer... I never used Dharma...

I think Dawn dish soap can sub for the synthropol.....

The washer thing probably depends on your machine..I know with mine if I keep the lid up it won't go beyond that agitate...it just stops...then I can reset the timer---But I have had a couple of machines an they all work a bit differently.

I dyed cotton bags with Rainbow Rock (procion dye) ....I think I did the soda ash soak for a set time. (I want to say 30 minutes but I am not positive) I didn't dye in the washer I just used a dish pan...

I know you will get better help out there than this but I thought I would give you 'something' to start with.

[BirthFree]

Why not Dharma? That's who I use.

Look at this link... it's what I use (and I didn't use Synthrapol... Dawn instead): http://diaperdivas.proboards57.com/index.cgi?board=sticky&action=display&thread=1150697689

My friend did the tutorial, it works well.

[Inspired Mama]

When I dye using the LWI method (my favorite!!) I wet the clothing and scrunch it up into the bottom of a container... I like to use large yogurt containers for child's tees. You want it to fit snug in the bottom so it won't float and they are tightly scrunched. This gives you a nice design. Then I mix my dyes adding nothing to them... just dye and water. I then pour the dye over the shirt. I use 2-3 colors per item. I will usually pour one color over one half and the other color over the other half. I then add enough water to just cover the item. I let it sit for an hour then add soda ash to warm water and stir until dissolved and add it to the dye bath. I use 2-3 TBSP. of soda ash per item. I then let that sit for another hour then rinse the tees and they are done~ I rinse them until the water runs pretty clear then throw them into the machine and wash.

Good luck! HTH :)

[twouglyducks]

I just finished dyeing a shirt using the tub dye method. Warm water and salt - 1c salt per gallon of water.
Mix dye with enough water to make paste and blend really well. Add warm water and stir well, don't want bits of unmixed dye.
Pour dye water into salt water and stir. Add garment(s). They should be floating free. Stir for 20 minutes (or at least every few minutes). Then, move the stuff out of the way and start pouring in the soda ash/water. Don't pour it onto the clothing. It says to add it slowly over 15 minutes. Then keep stirring every few minutes. 30min for medium hues, an hour for deeper hues. Then, rinse excess dye and wash.
No clue on the washing machine method.

[Ruth]

All I should need to say is www.paulaburch.net if you can't find what you want to know about dyeing there or from there then it's probably not been written.

[sahmlamar]

When I dye using the LWI method (my favorite!!) I wet the clothing and scrunch it up into the bottom of a container... I like to use large yogurt containers for child's tees. You want it to fit snug in the bottom so it won't float and they are tightly scrunched. This gives you a nice design. Then I mix my dyes adding nothing to them... just dye and water. I then pour the dye over the shirt. I use 2-3 colors per item. I will usually pour one color over one half and the other color over the other half. I then add enough water to just cover the item. I let it sit for an hour then add soda ash to warm water and stir until dissolved and add it to the dye bath. I use 2-3 TBSP. of soda ash per item. I then let that sit for another hour then rinse the tees and they are done~ I rinse them until the water runs pretty clear then throw them into the machine and wash.

Good luck! HTH :)

When using this method, do you pre-soak the shirt in soda ash? And how much dye/water ratio? Then how much soda ash?

Sorry for the 20 ?'s. I just don't really want to mess it up, kwim?

[Inspired Mama]

When using this method, do you pre-soak the shirt in soda ash? And how much dye/water ratio? Then how much soda ash?

Sorry for the 20 ?'s. I just don't really want to mess it up, kwim?

Nope, you don't pre soak in soda ash with this method. You want the dyes to creep around the fabric before you set them :) You will add the soda ash to the dye bath after an hour or so.

Here is a good link to LWI dyeing:

http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/lowwaterimmersion.shtml

[sahmlamar]

Why not Dharma? That's who I use.

Look at this link... it's what I use (and I didn't use Synthrapol... Dawn instead): http://diaperdivas.proboards57.com/index.cgi?board=sticky&action=display&thread=1150697689

My friend did the tutorial, it works well.

I'm still pending approval here, so I can't look at it. Can you tell me what this says, or copy and paste it here? Or have your friend post it somehow?

[mommy2maya]

I never presoak either, I think presoaking in soda ash is for tie dye.

What I do is prewash with a squirt of dishsoap. Next, mix up the dye with a bit of water. Make sure it is all dissolved or you will get spots. For dyeing in the washer you need a lot of dye, since it is in a lot of water. I actually use a small trashcan to dye in- I think it holds like 3-4 gallons? It's big enough for 2-3 shirts. Anyway, fill the container, stir in the dye, put your to dye items in, stir stir stir. After about half hour put in the soda ash, stir for about 10-20 minutes. Rinse rinse rinse rinse, lol. Then wash again with the dishsoap. Easy peasy, just gotta jump in and do it, yk?

[sahmlamar]

Ok- So I did it. Well DH and I did it!

We used InspiredMama's LWI yogurt method for one shirt. It's still soaking in soda ash to be washed tomorrow.

We used twouglyducks tub method for 2 other shirts, which are currently in the washer.

So we'll see tomorrow the results.

Next question. I dyed the 2 tub in Dharma Black Cherry (think very dark maroon). I dyed the LWI in Dharma maroon. And I am washing them on cold once, washing on hot 2x with Dawn, and a final cold rinse w/ vinegar (and maybe a color catcher?)

I plan on embroidering them with pink Texas A&M signs. At what point am have I washed enough that I don't have to worry about the dye bleeding on to my pretty pink embroidery?

[mommy2maya]

Honestly, all that washing seems excessive. I rinse by hand until the water runs clear, then do one wash. Vinegar won't do anything to help set/eliminate the extra dye. Also, once it is set, and all of the excess dye washes out, you really shouldn't have to worry about bleeding. Just make sure to rinse rinse rinse and get all the excess out on the first try.

[Inspired Mama]

I usually just rinse until the water runs somewhat clear then put them through one cold wash. I haven't had a problem with bleeding after that... I do always wash them spearate for the first two or three times after wearing just to be safe though.

I can't wait to hear how they turn out :)