Brilliant,
Colorfast Dye
MX dyes are permanent, colorfast
and very washable. You can easily create a palette of brilliant colors
ranging from light pastels to deep, vibrant hues.
Versatile
and Easy to Use
Perfect for all natural fibers -
cotton, rayon, linen, silk*, wool*, paper, reeds & wood. They will not
dye synthetics. Use MX Dyes for tie-dye, vat dyeing, batik, airbrush,
handpainting, printing, spatter painting and more!
Economical
This concentrated dye, which you
add to tap water, gives you the most brilliant color of all dyes.
Typically, 1 oz. can dye more than 3 yards of fabric, or
about 6 T-shirts.
Safety
MX dyes are considered nontoxic when used properly. Common sense
should be used when handling any dye or chemical. Prolonged inhalation of
dye powder can cause an allergic reaction in some people, so avoid
breathing the powder and wear a dust mask and rubber gloves. Keep out of
eyes and mouth and always supervise children carefully. Keep dye powder in
a closed container in a cool, dry place and they will remain stable for
several years.
See safety
procedures enclosed:
Soda
Soak Tie-Dye Method
1.
Fold
& tie the fabric.
2.
Soak
tied fabric in a mixture of I cup soda ash per gallon of water for 5 min.
Be sure the soda ash is thoroughly dissolved in the water.
3.
In one
cup (8oz.) hot water, mix 2 or more tsp. of dye, depending on the color.
(for darker colors, use 3 to 4 tsp. - for black, use 6 tsp). Apply dye to
fabric with squirt bottle, brush, sponge, etc.
4.
Put in
plastic bag and let stand for at least 12 hrs., but preferably 24 hrs. for
most intense color results. (especially black)
5.
While
fabric is still tied, rinse out excess dye under running water, untie and
wash.
Variations & Helpful Hints:
- Dye shirt or fabric a solid color first using Tub
Dyeing method, then tie-dye.
- After step 4, untie and re-tie in contrasting
pattern.
- After tie-dyeing item, re-tie and use color remover
to discharge dye to create a contrasting pattern.
- Sprinkle pure MX Dye powder onto tied and presoaked
fabric for intense bursts of color.
- Paint a pattern on with wax to create a batik
image, then dye. Remove wax by dry cleaning. Tub Dyeing
(Cotton, Linen & Rayon)
One lb. dry weight (3-6 sq.
yards of fabric or 3 T-shirts).
1.
Be sure
to wash fabric to remove any dirt, grease or sizing. We suggest using a
liquid detergent or Synthrapol.
2.
Fill
container(such as a 5 gallon plastic bucket)with 3 gallons of hot(105') tap
water, add salt and dye in the proportion listed in the quantities chart
below. When salt and dye are completely dissolved, add wet fabric and stir
for 20 minutes. Stir constantly or at least every 5 minutes.
3.
In a
separate container, dissolve the soda ash in one quart of hot tap water.
When completely dissolved, add to the dyebath in 3 parts at 5 minute
intervals while stirring. Do not pour directly on fabric. Continue stirring
every 5 minutes for the next 50 minutes, 30 minutes for pastels.
Remove from dyebath. Rinse in
cold water. Wash in 3 gallons of hot tap water & 1 1/2 tsp liquid
detergent or Synthrapol. Rinse & dry as usual.
Generally: Use 1 TBL dye powder for 1 pound of fabric (approx. 3 to
6 sq. yds. or 3 T-shirts). It's important that the dyebath completely cover
the fabric. For even, smooth color, the fiber should be able to move freely
in the dyebath. However, too much water will dilute the dye and result in
lighter color.
Printing
or Painting
The traditional method of
printing or painting with fiber reactive dye is to add baking soda (sodium
bicarbonate) to thickener paste. This method can be used for screen
printing, hand painting, warp painting, airbrush, stamping and all other
direct application techniques. It is important to prepare the fiber by
washing to remove the sizing. (see: Hands on Dyeing, Dye Painting
or Polychromatic Screen Printing.)
Procedure
1.
Wash,
dry and iron the fabric.
2.
Prepare
dye thickener paste. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to 1/2 cup thickener
paste. The baking soda "activates" the dye reaction. Activated
paste will remain usable for only 4 hours, then must be replaced with
freshly activated paste.
3.
Divide
the activated paste into several containers. Add dye, 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of
dye per 1/2 cup thickener is the standard range of dye to thickener.
Proportion the dye in each container in relation to the amount of thickener
paste and desired intensity.
4.
Print,
paint, starnp or airbrush on fabric.
5.
Air dry.
Fix by any of the following methods:
· Roll fiber in unprinted newsprint. Bind to make a
manageable bundle. Place a cake pan with 1" of water in the bottom in
a 285' oven. Place the fabric bundle on a rack above the pan. Steam for 10
minutes.
· Iron each area of the fabric for 5 minutes with the iron
set on "Steam." Work in a well ventilated area. The heat will
activate the urea.
· Dry for 15 to 30 minutes in a dryer at the highest heat
setting.
· Heat set in a steam chamber. (See Hands on Dyeing to
make an easy steam chamber.)
Dye Thickener
Mix at least 2 hours before
using.
Materials & Equipment:
- Wide mouth quart jar
- 10 tablespoons urea powder (or 3 tablespoons UREA
LIQUID)
- Measuring spoons
- 1 teaspoon Calgon
- 4 teaspoons sodium alginate
- 1 1/2 cups hot water
Procedure:
1.
Mix the
calgon and urea together in the jar.
2.
Add the
hot water.
3.
Slowly
add the sodium alginate, stirting constantly. Stir until dissolved.
4.
Add cool
water until the mixture is no longer stiff but is not runny. This should
make about 1 quart.
Washing
Machine Dyeing
(Garment Dyeing - Cotton, Linen
& Rayon)
Materials for 3-5 pounds of
fabric (standard top loading washing machine):
- 6-8 cups plain salt (not-iodized)
- Dye: double quantities shown on chart (prev. page)
- (5-7 yards of fabric or 8-10 T-Shirts)
- 2 cups soda ash (3 for darker shades)
- 2 TBL liquid detergent or Synthrapol
-
Procedure:
1.
Wash
fabric to remove dirt, grease and sizing with liquid detergent or
Synthrapol.
2.
Fill
washing machine to medium load (approx 6-8 gallons) with hot water. Add
salt and dye and agitate for 5 min, until both are dissolved.
3.
Place
wet fabric in machine and agitate for 20 min. (The wash cycle needs to be
extended, without the dye being drained or more water added, by turning
machine off & resetting at beginning of wash cycle).
4.
In a
separate container dissolve soda ash in 1 quart hot water. Gradually add to
dyebath in 3 parts at 5 minute intervals, being careful not to pour
directly onto fabric.
5.
Agitate
for 50 minutes (30 minutes for pastels).
6.
Let
machine drain the dyebath and complete the rinse cycle. To remove any
remaining dye, run through a complete wash cycle with hot water and use
detergent or Synthrapol.
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