Thread: I want to try dying my own silk veil

I can't tell you how many tie dye t-shirts I've made. I want to start making hand dyed silk veils for myself, and maybe sell them on bhuz or etsy or something if I get good at it. Any advice on technique, where to get supplies, etc?

Dharma Trading has both supplies and tutorials- great resource!

Paula Burch has the best online how-tos for dye work:

http://www.pburch.net/dyeing.shtml

Have fun!

you need different dyes for silk, which is a protein fibre, than cotton t-shirts (cellulose) dahrma will help you find the right stuff.
if you use dye that comes in a powder and gets mixed, remember to wear a particle mask until it is in the water and do not have food or drink in the area as the powder gets into the air and sticks to ANYTHING near it. (if there's a drop of water on the table near where you mix the dye, try dipping a scrap of fabric in it, you'll be surprised how much color there is. it's best to do it outside.)
rubber gloves are also important. if you use the same kind i used the hotter the water the better the dye takes, but i don't remember what brand it was so that's not very helpful, sorry! ..l;,

Keep a log of your supply costs and the time spent doing stuff...that should help reduce the chances of undercutting other people selling veils for too little on the thought that "I'm just starting out so whatever I can get is fine" which can be an issue with veil folks starting out.

I use the "acid dyes" from dharma trading. They are powder dyes and work well. You use hot water for the dye pot, and stir the powder in VERY thoroughly--even one grain of undissolved powder will make a huge streak on the fabric.
Get a dye pot and wooden paddle-spoon specifically for this purpose, as it's messy, toxic and will stain the pots. I have one pot specifically for reds because the red tends to linger even on the metal and can contaminate a lighter color (like if you tried to dye light yellow after dying red, it comes out orange!)

When you rinse, wear gloves. Use a vinegar rinse to help set the dye.
good luck!

Originally Posted by Sabine

When you rinse, wear gloves. Use a vinegar rinse to help set the dye.
good luck!

The vinegar (an acid) is only useful while the silk is being exposed to heat. Once there's no heat, the acid no longer helps set the dye.

Paula Burch, avid dyer, says this and I believe it. How do I know? I once forgot to add the vinegar to my acid dye bath. When I removed the fabric from the bath, I realized my mistake and put the fabric into a bucket of vinegar.

99% of the dye washed out!

So... the vinegar rinse is not really that useful.

Originally Posted by tigerb

The vinegar (an acid) is only useful while the silk is being exposed to heat. Once there's no heat, the acid no longer helps set the dye.

Paula Burch, avid dyer, says this and I believe it. How do I know? I once forgot to add the vinegar to my acid dye bath. When I removed the fabric from the bath, I realized my mistake and put the fabric into a bucket of vinegar.

99% of the dye washed out!

So... the vinegar rinse is not really that useful.

OMG, that happened to me on my last dye batch and I couldn't figure out why the colors were so pale. DOH!!!!

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

OMG, that happened to me on my last dye batch and I couldn't figure out why the colors were so pale. DOH!!!!

Sometimes I think failure is a better teacher than experience. ..g.:..g.:..g.:

dharma will say this too but please remember to work in a ventilated area with breathing protection. Some of these dyes are poisonous.

Originally Posted by Sabine

I use the "acid dyes" from dharma trading. They are powder dyes and work well. You use hot water for the dye pot, and stir the powder in VERY thoroughly--even one grain of undissolved powder will make a huge streak on the fabric.

Oh, and I forgot to say... Sabine is absolutely right about dissolving thoroughly... you will have the best luck dissolving your acid dyes if you dissolve them in a little cup or bowl first with boiling water. Yes, boiling! Some acid dyes turn into a little plastic lump when you first try to dissolve them if you don't use hot enough water. I don't want anybody else to suffer through that one.

Originally Posted by tigerb

Sometimes I think failure is a better teacher than experience. ..g.:..g.:..g.:

At least when you can figure out why you failed. I love you and your dyeing wisdom!

Ditto Dilution for the vinegar: I dilute the vinegar with hot water in a quart sized Pyrex and use a BIG spatula to move the silk out of the way before adding the diluted vinegar to the dye bath. Straight vinegar will take the color out of the silk while IN the dye bath if it contacts it... and the bleached spot will stay bleached no matter how long it stays in the pot. You'll need to wash the fabric and redye it to get rid of the bleach splatters.

Some people remove the silk, add the vinegar to the dye bath, stir well and then put the silk back in. But that means you've weakened the silk by exposing it to rapid temperature change TWICE (from pot to air, from air to pot) and you will have to spend additional time getting the dye bath back up to temperature.