tie-dye flannel

The pilling is probably a result of low quality/cheap fabric, which is mostly what TSWLTH carries. I'd certainly look online for quality flannel. I would think that

would carry a nice flannel, plus they have all the stuff you need do to really nice bright tie-dye. You can even get kits for the dye process. It's a lot of fun. I've done hundreds of Tshirts in my day.

Penny S

small change wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@drn.newsguy.com:

oooh, i was thinking i ought to check Dharma for flannel after i posted. i bet the 5 year old would *love* fabric dyeing. eQuilter has some Bali flannels, but they aren't quite what i want (or think i want). my mom says she got a new fall catalog from Keepsake Quilting, but i haven't yet. i can check thier website & drag Boo up after school if it looks like they have any. he *loves* the Keepsake & Patternworks stores :) good thing Dharma isn't in driving distance... lee

I

keep in mind that powdered procion dyes, the ones that yield the best colors, should be used with a lot of care. They need to be mixed wearing a dust mask, and you should handle them with gloves. Not sure how safe they are after mixing.

penny

The dust mask is a must. Blowing turquoise boogers is a sobering experience.

Kathleen

If you mean Procion MXs, they're very safe. They have very low toxicity. Some dyers who've been around them for a long time, and who haven't been careful about avoiding contact, report sensitivity to them. For the most part, though, the main problem is "blowing turquoise boogers", as Kathleen so delicately puts it. Also, if you don't wear gloves, you'll find that the dye stains skin very well. It grabs hard to the dry bits around your cuticles. Blue fingers, with the explanation "I was dyeing yesterday", can raise eyebrows.

As long as they're in solution they're fine. If you spill a drop and it dries you'll have powder again. I stand my dye containers and solutions of dye on a piece of damp cloth. If I like the drips and swirls on it, I dunk it in soda ash solution at the end of the dyeing session and I have another piece of hand-dyed fabric.

small change wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@drn.newsguy.com:

that shouldn't be a problem with him. we have a farm, so he's quite used to the idea of eye & ear protection (plus he has sensory integration issues, so the ear protectors are in use a

*lot, like for mixing cookies). he understands about chemicals to some degree, even though the worst thing i use is lice dust on the goats. a dust mask shouldn't phase him. the only problem i forsee is getting gloves his size... lee

.

I bet they'd be a hit too. LOL Talk about "magic nose goblins!" heh heh

What about the dishwashing gloves in a size small? Those are pretty little. I have fairly small hands and have to get a medium. You could always put a rubber band around his wrist too.

Have fun!!

Sharon

You might want to check out Friends Fabric Arts in Lowell. A bit far from you, but worth the drive. It's a paint/dye/decorate your own fabric place. They have all the paints and dyes and any other supplies you might need. You can either buy an item or bring your own yardage or garment. They have lots of samples around the store for inspiration. The prices are very resonable. The cost of the item they have include your other materials and studio time. The per hour rate for your own fabric is low. They have big plastic covered tables. They clean up and if your item needs to be heat set they do it for you and you pick it up in a few days. They will mail it if it's too far for you to go back. They do kid's parties as well as individuals just going it.

George's Fabrics just a block away is worth a visit too. Joy

"Joy" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

i think i remember George's