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Cotton Fabrics To Dye

You can dye any 100% cotton fabric with Procion MX dyes as long as the sizing or finish can be removed. If you buy some nice quality 100% white or unbleached cotton from a fabric shop, it's most likely fine to simply put it in the soda ash solution presoak and get the dyeing process started quicker.

Each kind of material will dye a bit differently. Remember if you switch to another sort of fabric, you'll have to adjust your recipe. Usually, thicker fabric uses more dye powder. Also, if you like how a particular fabric dyes, buy lots! Different seasons will give you different products that are often not the same. Some are similar but can produce dye results that are not the same.

What about PFD (prepared for dyeing fabric)?

I've had wonderful results with PFD fabrics as well so I'm regularly OK with any white or unbleached 100% cotton fabric intended for quilt making.

Select the fabric you like that has the surface design and weave that works for your completed projects. I use coarser weaves for those finished items that will not get harder wear and firmer weaves for those fabrics that are really going to be used and washed more often like children's clothing so the fabric holds up better with the harder wear and use demands.

I love to have a spread of tone on tone designs, stripes, floral patterns so then the fabrics are tones of white. It is usually engaging what the dye shading colors will be on those tone on tone fabrics and I like the surprise.

Some of the fabric companies that sell the dyes also have fabrics they recommend so that's another place to have a look for your fabric decisions. Different weights can add variation to your finished dye projects. A pant weight and a top weight dyed with the exact same color can make a nice outfit.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

About the Author

Marjorie is a clothing designer who specializes in creating recipes for and in dyeing fabrics for her lines of ready-to-wear. She dyes fabric for quilted garments regular garments and rag woven garments. She is an expert in how to dye cotton fabric.