Organza Dyeing-Again
It was my goal to have 27 colors of silk organza dyed to use as a starting point for um, something. My color choices were somewhat random I’ll admit. I am so excited about these beautiful samples of organza!
In each case I used Dharma Trading’s Acid Dyes and their Citric Acid. I have no idea what I’m doing or why, I’m just following what I’ve been told by Dharma and friends. I’m just having fun! I will get into the science of it if I decide to pursue this path again.
Roxane Lessa wrote me that it’s a lot easier to heat set the dyes using the sun instead of microwaving each individual package. I was all over that one! I started the same way with a 26″ square of silk organza stuffed into an XL “quart” baggie. I added a teaspoon of citric acid and a scant 1/4 teaspoon of each dye. I removed as much air as possible, massaged the package, then zipped up each bag and laid them in the sun. Roxane said 4 hours should set the dye. Just to be sure I “cooked” them for 10 hours.
This time I used significantly less dye and the silk soaked up all the dye, leaving clear water surrounding the silk in most cases. That was a win! I rinsed the bulk of the dye off and then went inside to treat each piece with the Synthrapol.
Oh I was excited at this point-such fabulous, vibrant color. I feel myself being sucked into The Dyeing Vortex. At this point I am still resisting…
Each color family had it’s own private Synthrapol bath with a color catcher. Even the color catchers were pretty!
Just me or does this look like an amniotic sac with an embryo of some odd creature? Little baby silk guys perhaps? Yes, the reds were bleeders alright.
After lots and lots of rinsing (I think I used more Synthrapol than the directions suggested) I had my little wads of loveliness. It was kind of like a box of chocolates at this point, each one a delicious flavor.
I gathered up all the samples when they were dry. I had a euphoric moment with each as I ironed them and admired their beauty.
There are advantages to being a neophyte-the dye was not dispersed evenly. I love this!
Some were almost shobori looking. I couldn’t get this beauty if I tried on purpose.
Okay for years I have sat on the sidelines of this whole dyeing/surface design thing. I still haven’t drank the whole glass of Kool-Aid, but, now I get it. I see why artists are reluctant to cut into that gorgeous piece of fabric, instead keeping it in their stash for years, occasionally petting it. I now understand that to the dye-ers eyes, commercial fabric seems so boring by comparison. I still don’t know what I’m going to do with these but I find myself walking into my studio and fondling them. Maybe they exist just to give me joy!
I love to link up with Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday-enjoy all the fun links!
I am fascinated to see what you are going to do with all these luscious pieces. I am wondering if you are preparing to make a sheer quilt. It would be interesting, if so.
Um, me too Betty Jo-I don’t know yet what to do with them. I am thinking about a sheer quilt though. That might mean lots of French seams…
Well done!! It’s almost impossible to get an ugly piece of fabric. I haven’t tried anything other than Procion to dye silks, but these are gorgeous!
Thank you Roxane! And thank you bunches for the tip on heating-doing each separate one in the mic would literally have taken all day. And apparently it is almost impossible to screw this up-I am absolutely clueless and look at those colors!
A friend of mine reminded me just last week that using the fabric we make is NOT the point…it’s the making and seeing and having that feed our souls!
This is a whole new concept to me Kathy-I really am product-driven and the thought of making something just to fondle is a new one. I do like to fondle them though…
Heh heh heh heh. Resistance is futile….
Apparently…. Are you having fun watching me sink deeper and deeper?
No— well, yes actually. I’m glad you’re having fun with it. I also resonate with hearing the siren song of surface design.
I am pretty sure I have been sucked in–what’s that sound???
I LOVE your fabric!
Oh thank you Michele-me too!
Truly gorgeous and great tips for dyeing. I’m eager to see what you make with these. At the same time, IF you by chance have any little scraps left over please save and consider selling them. I’d definitely be interested in some scraps of your silk organza hand dyes. Creative possibilities are endless.
QuiltShopGal
http://www.quiltshopgal.com
Oh I would love to know what you would do with these because I kind of don’t know where to start yet. I probably won’t be selling, can barely keep all my balls in the air now, giggle! But it’s sooooo easy! Buy the organza, citric acid and organza. Dump in bag and heat. Done! If you have trouble, call Dharma, they will walk you through it. Seriously this is idiot proof apparently!
Welcome to the world of surface design! Yes, you will get fabrics that are far richer and more interesting than those available commercially, unless you have a generous dyer as a friend or spend lots at craft shows. I’ve never used acid dyes, but have dumped my silks into MX Procion dye baths, mostly because that’s what I had. You should have lots of joy working with that silk organza.
Oh no, am I officially in the surface design world?
Mmmmm…..yummy! Can’t wait to see what you come up with to use them up.
Yeah, me too Nancy! I have no idea.
Great results! And there’s nothing wrong with them just giving you joy. I can see you dyeing more fabric in the future.
Thanks Linda-they are fun to pet!
I wonder – would this dye work on silk fabric? Live in Nevada and being able tp put in the sun is a fabulous idea – thanks Ms Leeza.! Luv your organza colors. I woould be happy to find a use for any of your scraps and w ill fund the postage.
Ruth
Oh yes Ruth, especially for you the sun is the way to go. I’m keeping it all to myself, giggle!
These are so delicious!
Don’t throw away those dye catchers. They have a unique texture when quilted andI I have often used them in quilts.
I saw Schatzi Brimer use them in her quilts so I knew to save them. Similar to the silks, not sure how I will use them but I’m going to take a gander at your site to see how you used them.
Welcome to the world of fabric dyeing addicts, it’s a good place to be. Don’t fondle and gaze at your fabrics, use them! You can always make more.
Using regular Procion MX dyes on silks can make them very wrinkly, as the soda ash is caustic and is extremely hard on silk. You’re better off sticking with the acid dyes on silk. And you can buy citric acid in the canning department of your local store, I think the brand name is Fruit Fresh.
Oh thank you for the tip Laura! It would be nice to buy it here. Yes, my limited knowledge tells me that the acid dye is the way to go on silk. I want to try it on Radiance next. And you bet I will use these fabrics-just not sure where or how yet.
I’m not sure if the acid dyes will work on the cotton portion, but the MX dyes work great on Radiance
My thought was that it might go all heather-y on me which might be kind of fun. It’s 55% cotton so maybe it will be cool for the cotton to resist the dye? I’m going to do a little square and see. The whole steaming thing with the MX does not appeal to me. I’m a lazy dye-er Laura!
So easy to get addicted! And you can dye silk with Kool-aid, you don’t have to drink all of it! You can also dye silk with Easter egg dye. I stock up when it gets marked down 90% off.
Haven’t tried Kool-Aid yet Janice. All these things to try now. I’ll be going out of town next week and I realize I will miss petting my organza-might have to tuck some into my suitcase!
Welcome to the “dark”, ER colorful side!!!! I sell my fabrics because I can,t possibly use them all, and I can’t stop making them!!!!!!! Hehehe
Thank you Rebecca-I feel embraced by “the dark side”! I am beginning to understand why you sell your fabric-uh oh.
What fun you had! I am still drooling…
It was fun! I want to do more!
That was a good tip on the Fruit Fresh. Nice to not have to pay for citric acid. I actually have always used vinegar to dye my protein fibers. The rug hookers use citric acid–that’s the only reason I started using it. I LOVE the “shibori” piece you got!
I liked the idea of a granule that does not smell vs a liquid that does, hence the citric acid. How scientific, lol!
Gorgeous!! They look like they could all be scarves if not used for a quilting project. Dharma Trading Company carries wonderful silk scarf blanks in all types of silk, including habotai, crepe de chine and charmeuse, with finished rolled edges. I used to dye those a lot, back in my dyeing days. You might want to think about doing some of those too – they are fun to make, fun to wear, and fun to sell! Also wondered if you have tried dyeing rayon – it also takes dye very well and is very fluid – great for garments.
Haven’t done rayon yet-remember I’m brand new at this and I don’t even know if I will do anything but organza! I have a few of those scarf blanks…..
OOOOOOOOOOOOO they are just so gorgeous, like you I have resisted the dyeing techniques available to us now for a long time, but I am now dithering, will I wont I. Hmmmm, if I had results like yours I most certainly would give it a go. My friend Maggi who died earlier this year used to dye her own fabrics, all sorts, I miss her so much, I am so glad I bought masses of her fabrics whilst she was still with us. If she was here she would probably say, Go for it Jan you can do it…….dithering daisy thats me.
Well I join her voice and say do it! Seriously all I did was take the dye from Dharma apply it to the organza and that’s what I got. The second time around I just put it in the sun. Easy peasy. Seriously, go do it! And then show me what you made!