Well I got this little fridge a while back to store dye concentrates and alginate print paste. It all lasts so much longer when it’s kept cold. For a while I was putting it all in the big fridge in the kitchen – but well – it was just too stressful. The dye looks like a fabulous summer drink and the alginate looks a lot like honey.

This book is an incredible resource if you are mixing dye colors and want to get consistent results. Consistency is not that important to me, but it is so convenient to mix up these concentrates in advance for dye day.

The process goes something like this-

I used 4 Tablespoons of dry procion dye powder to 4 cups of water. I mixed all the dye into 2 cups and then put the lid on, shook it up and when it was all dissolved added the rest of the water. Yellow always seems to settle to the bottom and the reds take some time to dissolve.

aren’t they pretty?now fill up a 1 gallon size zip lock bag with about a cup of water. If you want to add a Tablespoon of salt go ahead.

Then just a spoon of dye and the piece. I used 1 tablespoon of the concentrate for about a quarter yard of silk velvet.Then Squish!I put a damp piece of paper towel down when I mix up the powdered dye with the water. The damp towel grabs the powder right from the air. But you will still want to use a mask!
Now add the soda ash to activate the dye.

1 Tablespoon per cup or a little less

To make the solution mix about 1/4 cup soda ash to 1 quart of water. Add a few tablespoons of the solution to the bag and just let it sit for at least 4 hours. I think overnight is best because the extra dye comes out much easier. It’s true that most of the dyeing happens in a few minutes after adding the soda ash solution- but I notice that the extra dye just keeps bleeding from the piece unless you let it sit awhile.

The results are in:For the multi colors, start with the lightest and add each darker color after 15 minutes or so. Always add a Tablespoon of soda solution after ever color you add to the dyepot (zip loc bag) If you want separate distinct colors, don’t agitate as much or even at all.

Have fun!!