Dying canvas

I'm not really qualified to answer the question as I've created very colorful rags when I used fabric paints and dyes but lack of knowledge never stops people from participating in online discussions I did, however, take a canvas painting class. We used plain acrylic paints to create a bouquet which we later stitched over.

Even if you're not planning to cover the dyed or painted area, it's possible that washes of the cheap stuff might work.

Uh, Cheryl, the colored canvas is not much more than the normal colors. As in 4 cents a sq in vs 3 cents. That is for all the colored stuff. I'll have to take a better look - but I don't recall seeing anyso to speak hand-dyed. But, I have seen some printed to look like hand-dye - which is slightly higher.

I'm not sure how the dye will take with the starch which is built up on the canvas. Good luck trying. I think you'll have a hard time getting a traditional dye method to really work - chemistry thing, saturation of the starch versus dying on linen where you're saturating the fiber.

Have fun with your experiment.

Ellice

Ah, but dye works a bit differently than painting on canvas. The thing with the painting, is that you're more bonding the paint to the surface of the canvas, as opposed to having the dye taken up by the fiber itself.

Most canvas painting is done with acrylic paints - they're water soluble, opaque, and become permanent. There's a bunch of technical info that has to do with how permanent, how opaque -but that only matters to artists. IME, most people just painting for themselves, or doing a "paint a canvas" class, use craft type acrylics, and often add fabric medium. Most of the "professional" canvas painters use high grade artist's acrylics, which have more pigment and are heavier paint. While they (me included) may use flow extender (acrylics dry quickly), fabric medium isn't necessary. The starch on the canvas isn't that much different than painting on a gessoed canvas (like an art painting). The fabric medium makes the paint more flexible, better able to bond on a sweatshirt, or the like, which will take on many shapes in use. But, the paint essentially builds on the surface - unlike dye which is really an osmotic process (similar to staining vs painting wood).

But, I do think Cheryl should give her creative edge a whirl!

Ellice

I just dyed a bunny for the SMDGD and had to soak the poor little thing forever to make sure that all of it was wet enough so that it would accept the dye. I wonder what sort of results you would get if you thoroughly soaked the needlework canvas to remove all of the stiffeners and get the the base fabric thoroughly wet and then dyed it? Once dry, it could be soaked in some sort of stiffener again -- not sure if fabric startch is what is actually used -- to get it firm enough to stitch on more easily. Interesting topic :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

But the canvas obviously is, we are told that it is dying. Will there be a wake when it finally succumbs?

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

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I'm not sure, but I think it would take a bit to soak off all the starch, and then it would just be very loose, unstable stuff. I know people that do some soaking to reform for some of the multi-dimensional kind of work. You can steam canvas to re-shape it. I'm just hesitant to remove the stiffening agent, 'cause if you do, well, then you might as well just try some 18 ct cork fabric instead of 18 ct canvas. Though, proportionally, the holes are larger in canvas compared to the thread than with most of the woven fabrics.

Ellice

While I have painted on canvas - and acrylics work great - I have had lots more experience with dying (yarn & fabrics). It can be loads of fun with a moderately steep learning curve. If you want a finished item where the dyed area is part of the item, then I suggest heading over to Dharma Trading

and read up ondyes and the supplies and methods. (NAYY) You need the right dye for you material and the supplies needed tomake the material take the dyes as well as to hold it. There aredifferent dyes for natural fibers and man-made stuff). Canvas orfabric that has been treated with stiffeners may need to be washedfirst, then dyed. I just did this recently with rug hooking canvasand it turned out beautifully. You can also get a starter kit very inexpensively that contains the instructions and materials that you will need. It is a great way to see if you like the process. Beware - it is addicting. Then head to the library and find some of the books on surface treatments. Dying then applying materials for resist and dye dispersion are soooo much fun.

Allow yourself enough time (many of the dyes & colors have to sit for up to 24 hours to fully absorb the color) and go for it. And remember, you can always overdye if you don=92t like it the first time.

Jenny in Pittsburgh

Yes - but there isn't a near by brick and mortar store and I can buy the DMC cheap and easy

Even if I manage a slight color change, I'll be happy

When I get three spare seconds to rub together...

C

ROFLMAO

If you call Fidelis at BFGoodstitch, she'll send you what you want. Or I can go get you some and send it (I'd offer to bring it, but things are a bit much around here lately).

Elizabeth

Partly, I just want to try - sort of like trying to dye my own floss or fabric. And since "returns" go to "clearance", I can get a great deal.....

Cheryl

(the worst part about work is when doing recovery, my last upright is on the same aisle as clearance and there are all sorts of things I never knew I "needed".)

Hey, if you just want some colored canvas - LMK. I do have more canvas at home than the shop...as I'm supposed to be designing. Tee hee.

Ellice

I'm sure you do!

Cheryl

Thanks for the food for thought - only partially digested....

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

I would recommend using the acrylic paint. Dilute it so that you can wash it onto the canvas with a brush. Repeat until you have the desired opacity.

Try experimenting on smaller pieces before you try the big canvas.

Let us know how it turned out.

Dyan Kustom Krafts > I recently saw a project in one of the British magazines using colored/dye= d