dye and disasters

Today I dyed the purple (Cheshire cat) and orange (Mad hatter) shirts for the Mad Hatters Charity Tea Party and met my barnical target:

10 x Robin Chunky (Triple Colour) Wool using a 4.5mm crochet hook. These took a while due to a small hook and having to get used to working with my right hand again. I do need to sew in ends of each of them however as I ran out of time and feel if I don't I would be skipping corners.


For Mad Hatters I have dyed both the purple (Cheshire cat) and orange (Mad hatter) shirts:


Orange Dye

White Shirt

Initially, the colour didn't take due to the incorrect issue of powdered dye, procien instead of disperse which was totally incorrect for the material composition.  The dye left a faded, flat patchy coloured shirt which looked insipid.

Using Dylon Goldfish Orange and 500g of Salt, as a fixer the shirt went into the washing machine for 40 mins and a drying time of 20 mins.  It produced a more brighter, vibrant orange colour. All the patches had vanished and it had an even colour.


Purple Dye

White Shirt

After being dyed with the incorrect dye, procien instead of disperse, the shirt was dull, patchy and uneventful,did not have the wow factor and even from a distance looked old and worn.

Using Dylon Intense Violet and 500g of salt as the fixer in the washing machine for 40 mins and a drying time of 20 mins it produced a bright, even violet colour. This stands out and ties in well with the character.

Next time I am to dye material I will double check the dye before I use it as it would have saved a lot of time and effort doing so. Also it will save the fabric getting patchy as this was my main worry that it wouldn't cover the patches and increase the ruin. I took a chance this time and it paid off but I may not be so lucky next time.