I Dyed and Went to Heaven

I took this wonderful class on Saturday on Ice Dyeing. It was fabulous. The process is VERY easy and the results very dramatic!

One of my first attemps.  A single 2 yard cut that graduates from
pink to orange to purple to blue and back to pink

Basically, you soak fabric in a water and Soda Ash solution to prepare the fabric to receive the dye.  Then you wring out the fabric and scrunch into interesting hills and valleys.  Cover the fabric with ice cubes.  Sprinkle Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes over the ice cubes.  As the cubes melt and soak into the fabric they, they transport the dye into the weave.


When the ice cubes are clear, you are done.  Rinse the whole mess under cold water until the water runs clear.  Then, throw into the washing machine with a cap full of synthrapol.

I love the results!  I can't wait to try this out at home in the comfort of my own backyard where I can take my time and really play with the colors.

Over dyed a hideous piece of commercial fabric.
The photo does not do justice to the beautiful
greens I was able to achieve.  I love it now.

50 shades of grey.  Love it!





Another 2 yard piece.  Blue to violet to magenta to pink and back

Very soft grey blue in the center surrounded by hot pink and orange.  And I have
2 yards to play with!  Yay me!

Right now, I'm thinking that these fabrics are candidates for Hawaiian-style applique.  I'm thinking the pink/orange has a bird of paradise in it's future. The blue some type of trumpet flower.  I'm still waiting for the soft grey to speak to me.

Until next time,
Mercy in warm and sunny Miami