Dyeing Projects Made Easy: What to Know

Fabric content & dyeing method are important to note and can effect results. Of course results may vary for a number of other reasons (FAQ section solves your most asked questions). Taking a few minutes to do a fabric colour test can save you more time later on. Luckily even if you don't test colour before, you can easily repeatedly dye fabric (to intensify colour or change the existing colour). Tintex Colour Remover can lighten existing colour to a off-white; flight coloured fabric dyes closet to box colour. 

Women WIth Questions

Fabric Dyeing 101

Before starting a dyeing project: 1) Know fabric content and fabric weight because, you may need more/less product depending on your fabric. 2) Appreciate how existing fabric colour impacts colour results. 3) Test out dye colour on a fabric sample before dyeing a large amount of fabric -- you can always adjust colour as needed.

Fabric always needs to be clean (washed) and wet (excess water can be gently removed) before starting a project. Washing fabric may help with some special finishes that are present. Special finishes applied to fabric can effect dyeing results, but not all finishes can be removed by washing.

Tintex is a hot water dye made for most washable fabric such as: cotton, linen, silk, nylon, acetate, rayon, wool, spandex and viscose. There are a couple of fabrics that aren't suitable for our dye solution (100% polyester or 100% acrylic fabrics can't be dyed with our product).

Generally, fabric blends are possible to dye if the majority of the fabric content is suitable for our product. You may need to adjust dye amount if your blend contains fabrics with different properties. The amount of dye required for a project may need to be adjusted to suit the fabric content (ex: 1-pound cotton needs one 55g box, but 1-pound of wool needs two 55g boxes). 

Get Brighter Colours in an Hour or Less

The stove top method is the best technique for deeper colour intensity. Bright colours always use double the usual amount for your fabric content/fabric weight. Fabric always appears darker while in dye bath.

Water temperature needs to be hot for our product to work properly (keep temperatures at 140°F if possible). Dye powder must be completely dissolved before being added to dye bath. Fabric must be constantly agitated while in the dye bath.

The amount of active time in the dye bath may vary from 30 - 60 minutes. The longer an item is in the dye bath the deeper the colour will be (dye bath also needs to be hot for the duration of dyeing). For best results after dyeing and to reduce colour transfer, wash items separately or with like colours as needed.

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