How To Dye Thread - Tutorial
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This is for natural fibres of the Plant Persuasion (cotton, bamboo, ramie, rayon, linen, silk) using Procion (fibre-reactive) dyes
Start with good quality thread - I use cotton, linen, and silk, and mixtures of these. Rayon can be dyed but is beastly to handle. Do not use anything with a synthetic component, or you will get spotty or rather boring results.
It's quite hard to handle threads direct from the balls, so I wind first into a "cheese"
And then onto a skein - I use a "swift" but a biggish piece of stiff card will do for small amounts, and you can bypass the cheese stage if you are patient (I am not...)
Tie the skeins in at least 4 or 5 places, loosely, with a different thread if possible (this makes it easier to rewind later)
Twist the skeins lightly until you have enough for your dye session
Soak your threads in soda-ash solution (1 cup to a bucket of warm water) for at least 15 minutes
Lay your skeins in small containers, with a piece of similarly soda-soaked fabric underneath. You can use one colour, or many. Squish very gently, WITH YOUR RUBBER GLOVES ON...!
Stack the containers or put the lids on; leave somewhere warm for 24 hours
Rinse till the water runs clear in lots of COLD water (you can soak in a bucket for a couple of hours, this helps, too)
HOT wash, in those little net bags you get for washing babies' socks, by machine, or very thoroughly by hand (keep those gloves on...)
And dry
Rewind from the skein into smaller amounts for using or giving to your amazingly grateful friends..
Can't be bothered? Buy threads HERE...
Helen Howes
Helen Howes Textiles
1 Castell Farm Cottages, Thurlton Road, Raveningham, Norfolk NR14 6NY. UK
07914 676182
Email me here - helen@helenhowestextiles.co.uk
I prefer that you email me (at any time), or phone between 3 and 6 (UK time) most days