Dyeing Session

I realised today why I haven't done heaps of dyeing in a while... not only is it hard work, but I do it all in a 1m square space which is frustrating. Anyway, I had an appointment at lunch too, but got two hours done and nearly all 29 pieces started. Will take another few days, maybe 6 hours to get it all finished LOL.

First steps for me is to mix my dye. I have chemical sensitivity (long story) so I use a full dust and particle mask to mix dyes. You should use at least a dust mask, but I find even with a dust mask I get a migraine headache. Not a fashion statement to say the least, but safety first.

I keep my mask on until all dyes are mixed and placed in a bottle. I love bamboo skewers, they are the dyers best mixing friend.

Here are two shibori, Japanese resist, pieces. Colours look great from the outside, but this is my first attempt at this using that particular fabric. It is usually done with silk. I have used soda ash in two different ways on each so when I unwrap I can see which technique works best for my purpose. Hope they look as fab unwrapped.

These things have had the dye applied directly to fabric, but soda ash again in different methods. I am experimenting to see what works the best for me.

Pics of everything shown here rinsed in the next few days (maybe)

I have a huge dyeing session planned for tomorrow with 29 pieces to dye! It's the biggest session I have done for ages, but means that there will be a decent range for the GDUNH, assuming I don't mess any up. I'm excited to try some new designs and methods, hope they dye well, and some japanese dyeing techniques. I also have a few new stencils that I have made for the GDUNH stocking for something different. Most are unisex, and then a focus on boys as I find most "unisex" stuff out there is too girly for me.

the painting of a superhero

coming to ozebaby this week, still a work in progress
starts with marking out a sketch of proportions in paint and details slowly emerge

today's dyeing

some pics from today's dyeing. I spent from 9:30 - 12:30 dyeing without a break, really feels like work that way. I still have some dip dye items in buckets, dyeing three colours onto a shirt can take hours (min 20 mins dye, min 15 mins soda ash each colour). I usually stretch it out so the colours are perfect, it isn't easy to touch up colours once they have been dipped, better to have them right first time.

The yellow/green tee will be a hand painted pic, something I have wanted to paint for a long time and in a style I have been planning for. There will be more in this series.
The other bucket included a custom tee, very girly colours and a bag.

This is an experiment with a new dyeing method. If it turns out like it should, it will be fabulous. Very time consuming for each items though, not like just throwing it in a bucket and walking away.

All done, near empty dye bottles and a full bucket of garments curing. They could be left for 4 hours, but I prefer 24 hours. I'll rinse them tomorrow.