As a frequent fabric dyer and lover of all things vibrant and dark, I’m no stranger to black dye. After a failed high-school experiment of bleaching a favorite pair of jeans and then dyeing them with “black” dye resulted in a mousey gray pair of jeans, I ended up on a bit of a quest … Read more
Natural dyes are such a fun way to create color using ingredients that are available in your backyard. I often see natural dyeing as an experiment. I find it’s more enjoyable if I’m not tied to creating an exact shade. Instead, I approach the project with a desire to understand what range of colors can … Read more
When choosing the best dye for your project, the most important thing to be aware of is the fiber content of the items you’re dyeing. This will help you choose the most reliable and permanent dye, as different types of dyes are formulated to work with different types of fibers. The best dye for cotton, … Read more
I’ve been dyeing clothes and fabric for years. I even dyed my wedding dress, and I’ve taught dyeing workshops in New Zealand. Here are 18 things to tie-dye at home. I’ve included tips to help you succeed with each project, and rated whether they’re beginner-friendly ideas or not. Clothes & wearables to tie-dye: T-shirts (beginner-friendly) … Read more
Wool fabric types can be categorized by the type of animal that produces the fiber, by the processing method that’s used to form the fabric, or by the design. In this article, we’ll go over examples from all of these categories. Please note that this article is focused on wool fabrics that are used for … Read more
My preferred dyeing vessels are plastic tubs and metal dye pots. I’ve also dyed fabric in bathtubs, kitchen sinks, laundry sinks, and I frequently use my washing machine to wash dyed fabric. I use fiber-reactive and acid dyes rather than box dyes in most cases. Box dyes, like Rit and Dylon, are more of a … Read more
I’m a big online shopper when it comes to fabric. You just can’t beat the range of options. Here’s a roundup of the best online fabric stores for UK buyers. I’ve tried many of these stores myself, so I’ll share my opinions on them and what they’re known for. Pin this image to bookmark the … Read more
In addition to using silk for my handmade work blouses, I also made my wedding dress out of silk! The dress has a princess-seamed bodice and a three-layer circle skirt made from hand-dyed silk satin, chiffon, and gauze. Each type of silk required a slightly different treatment, as will the fabric you’re sewing with – … Read more
I’ve been dyeing fabric for over a decade. I even dyed my handmade silk wedding dress! Here are 4 ways to dye silk fabric, how to choose the right method for your project, and step-by-step instructions. Contents list: What’s the best way to dye silk? Can you dye silk dresses, clothes, curtains, etc? My fabric … Read more
Wool is one of my absolute favorite fibers to work with. I’ve sewn many trousers, shirts, coats, and jackets using different types of wool. It’s generally a hard-wearing, hard-to-soil fabric, with great temperature-controlling properties (meaning it will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer). If you’re in a rush, here’s a … Read more