dye fabric

How to Dye Fabric in the Sink using Dylon’s Dye

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dye fabric

I am going to make another costume for Rusty, well at least attempt to make one. I really didn’t want to spend the money on expensive fabric because I’m going to make it up as I go, so I decided to buy muslin and dye it. I also decided to dye some of the embroidered fabric that I used for my tree skirt. I have a lot of that leftover and I was curious to see how it would take to dye.

I used Dylon Dye in Tulip Red because it is a permanent fabric dye and I wanted to try something new. The dying process took a little over an hour.

Here’s basically what the package says with my advice thrown in there:

Have a plastic bag open and ready for you to toss in the dye packet and gloves for when you’re finished to avoid the risk of staining other things around your kitchen like the floor or garbage can. 

dye fabric

supplies

1, 1.75oz, packet can be used for up to ½ lbs of fabric or one large t-shirt

Cover your counter around the sink with newspaper or rags if there is a spill or splash or you’re a klutz like me.

1. Weigh and wash fabric and leave it damp.

2. With gloved hands dissolve entire packet, use scissors to open to prevent the dye from flying everywhere, into 4 cups of warm water in a bowl or something you don’t mind getting stained

3. Fill a stainless steel sink, or bowl, with enough warm water to allow the fabric to flow freely give it space to dance

4.  Add 4 Tbsp of salt to the water and add the dye Yes that IS a lot of salt

5. Put that fabric in the sink

6. Stir constantly for 15 minutes. I made the mistake of not having any music on making the 15 minutes seem like an eternity. 

dye fabric

muslin after 15 minutes

dye fabric

embroidered fabric after 15 minutes

Then stir regularly for 45 minutes. Looking for a way to make your significant other or roommate nervous? Stir the dye bath with your dominant hand while texting with your non-dominant over  the sink. 🙂 Just don’t accidentally drop it in. 

7. Rinse fabric with cold water. Then wash it in warm water. To dry, line dry inside away from direct heat and sunlight. I laid mine flat on a towel that was darker than the dye and didn’t care about if the dye happened to stain it. Let it dry over night.

dye fabric

right after washing, still soaked

dye fabric

fabric after it dried

I’m kind of pleased how it turned out. I had no idea if the embroidered fabric would take dye, because I couldn’t remember the fiber content. As for the pattern piece, it’s a little more pink than I was hoping but part of that is my fault. I did have slightly more than ½ lb of fabric which was the greatest weight recommendation. My hopes were for a richer red. But I can make it work and I would use Dylon’s Dye again. I just need to buy 2 packets instead of one to be on the safe side.

dye fabric

color I got vs color I was hoping to get



lion mane costume

Lion Mane Dog Costume

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Happy Halloween! Yesterday I showed how I made Rusty’s lion mane dog costume. Here is the finished result!

top view

Top View

lion mane costume

Give me treat!

He is a very scary lion! Or an adorable one!

Ready for the day!

I love how his ears turned out in this costume!

Hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!

Check out a second version of a lion mane dog costume here!


How to Make a Simple Braid

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First I need supplies. Three pieces of thread or string at the desired length and then I usually add about four to sixes inches to my desired length because of the knot I need to tie at the ends of the braid.

Supplies for Braiding

knot

Tie a Knot

braid

Tape

Now something I always think about when I’m braiding, is think of as the three strands are fighting to stay in the middle. The outside always wants to be in the middle.

colors

outside towards to the middle

So in the picture above the pink thread, outside right, is crossing over the center, red, thread.

bring the other side to the middle

Now the pink is in the middle and I need to bring the blue, outside left, over the pink and into the middle.

close up

close up of first braid

middle

to the middle again

Again, bring the outside right, now the red, over the blue to the middle.

again

pink to the middle

Now the blue is the outside right, the red is in the middle and the pink is outside left. Bring the pink over the red making the red now the outside left and the pink the middle thread.

close up of the braiding

If you’re yarn long thread, be careful and separate the threads after each passing because the ends can get tangled. Also try to keep the same tension as you braid so there’s an even pattern.

continue to braid

keep going

Continue all the way down until there is only about an inch or so left of thread, or until you can’t braid anymore. Then, I like to tie a knot to keep the braid from separating.

complete

braid complete!

This is going to be the string for my stitch counter, so I carefully cut the knot off each end, as close to the knot as I possibly can, and carefully thread the stitch counter and then knot both ends together.

necklace

my stitch counter is ready

I’m now ready to use my new stitch counter necklace!

 



It’s Here – Knitting

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It’s here! The knitting book I ordered, Chick with Sticks Guide to Knitting, came in and just briefly glancing over the first few projects, I have a lot of knitting supplies to shop for. 🙂

Also, I read a section about catching to many stitches on my needles and one way of correcting the problem is to catch a second loop on the same stitch until you get back to the proper number of stitches! Glad to see my instincts were right about that one.

I also finished my first project, a beautiful purple scarf made from baby alpaca, with the aid of the book. It’s only 39inches long. But it’s for a first grader so hopefully it’ll be long enough for her.

Now, I need to tackle a second scarf and shop for supplies to complete some of the projects in this book. I’m so excited!


Hi all Needle Art Enthusiasts

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Hello and welcome! My name is Rachel and am currently living in the Boston area. I decided to create a space to display, vent my frustrations, express my joys, and share my trials and errors with you for all of my needle craft habits.

Recently a wonderful lady by the name of Marilyn taught me how to cast-on, knit stitch and purl stitch for knitting! I am currently knitting a scarf for my niece! I just cast on 14 stitches on US size 10 needles and knit knit knit! I’ll post step by step instructions on how to hand wind a hank, cast on and knit stitch when I start the second scarf for my other niece.

But until then, I’ll just jump right into it with the scarf I am currently working on. I am also getting a book call Chick with Sticks Guide to Knitting because I’m hoping between the book and Youtube videos I can learn how to  bind off. Then I will be completing some of the projects in there as well.

-Rachel