fabric dyeing

On Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:58:43 -0600, Kathyl wrote (in article ):

I just might have to try both the snow dying and tossing out the dye bath. I can just picture the faces of the kids next door if they saw blue and pink snow.

Maureen

On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:13:12 -0600, NightMist wrote (in article ):

I wish we were full up. But it's snowing here again. Fortunately, Springfield seems to be in a spot where the worst always goes north or south, so we'll be left with only a few inches on the ground. On top of a couple of inches of ice that I swear has been there since Christmas!

Maureen

Maybe you could put it in a spray bottle and draw something artistic! The trouble with that is everything is pooled together at the bottom of the pan, so unless only one color was used, you'll probably get a brown or purple brown. I'm hooked. I have two more pans sitting out now. I have now used up all my soda ash solution, but I still have lots of dye left. Next time I won't mix up so much dye! Who knew one C H2O and one T dye powder would go so far?? Well, I guess I should have known....it's not the first time I've mixed up dyes.

Just wondering - do you have to have a pan to hold the fabric and snow? Could you just do everything outside or does the snow have to melt? Since I don't have any pans handy I was thinking I could bury some fabric in snow and then spritz dye on top. If I did it along the side of the house the coloured snow wouldn't be too obvious ..... Allison

You need the snow on top to melt and carry the dye down through the fabric. However....it certainly would be fun to see if you get any interesting designs by trying it your way. None of this is rocket science. You might discover another fun way to play with the snow. Or....you could put the fabric soaked in soda ash on the snow, cover it up with more snow, put the dye on the snow, then perhaps spray some water on top to get the snow started melting. Oh the possibilities! Do you have any plastic dishpans? a bucket? KJ

Could the disposable aluminum baking pans work? i can get those at the dollar store in all kinds of sizes! and then rinse and either re-use or put in recycling. amy in CNY

):

Sure. That would work. Just don't ever use them for any food items.

Might I suggest lining such pans with plastic wrap? Only it is not a fabulous idea to do chemistry experiments in metal containers. It might not make a difference with this method. On the other hand, having unplanned black spots or something wherever the soda soaked fabric touched the metal would not be a good thing. Better safe eh?

NightMist

How about the cheapest kitty litter tray you can get?

Lizzy