Dye class in Wanderful Online Dye Studio

Dear Beginner Dye Class

Please join us in this class to get a better handle on dyeing. We will look at getting you cozy with your personal dyes, all brands welcome and creating your own formulas and teaching you 4 dyeing methods.

Two full and wide ranging lessons.

Cost $40.00

This class will take place in the online Wanderful Dye Studio.

You will receive your invitation when you sign up.

It will start on April 18th 2011

Press this button below to secure your "seat" in class. Please write wlm@bmts.com to secure other payment methods.

>You are required to have wool, dye equipment and dyes, I have a list of inexpensive tools you can use and one of more comprehensive equipment if you wish to be more than a dabbler... look below.

No dyeing experience is necessary. Your attendance in class is at your leisure, no need to be online when class is posted. Any questions?

The dye dabbler list:

Here is a list for you of tools and materials you need if you just want to try dyeing out with out a big investment.

Rit dye: choose a colour you would like in your rug. Here is the colour chart.

aluminum pans ( at least two 8x8" ) and cookie sheet to hold them and carry them to the oven

toothpicks

chop sticks

wool

glass jar

old pot holder

That's the minimum.

The True Blue - I'm gonna be a dyer list

Here is an equipment list you can use to be a right proper dyer as I live and breathe today.

Dyes- get one specifically for wool (protien fiber) , the results will be better.

I like Majic carpet brand for beginners, only 14 dyes, the browns are true brown, the greens are not alike, strong yellow, good red violet, great black. They are about $50 fromwww.let'shookrugs.com( CA) or our member Ken Carpenter in the States.

Citric Acid -the no smell, no fuss , no dilution acid for acid reactive dyes.( that includes, cushing dyes, pro chem washfast acid dyes and Aljo dyes, the most commonly used rug hooking dyes.

Wetting agent - shampoo, or synthropol or jet dry

This item and the above one are available at prochem listed in dyeing auxilaries

and can be shipped to you.

Dyeing Containers

A flat pan with 4 inch sides, large enough to hold one 1/2 yd in it squished, a 9"x13" inch pan is just a little too small for all purposes ( for spot dyes and chelsea rolls and marbelizing in the oven)

One bigger kettle type pot

One electric frying pan and a kitchen kettle and a crock pot.

Now I try to get the latter items at yd sales or wait until they are on sale. You can also repurpose items you already have, remember dye once and they remain the property of the dyer.... no longer fit for the kitchen.... this is sounding surprisingly like a battle for my soul...

Measuring spoons

I look for a pinch a dash and a smidgen spoon, the smallest one is 1/32 tsp.

A set of very cheap regularly sized measuring spoons starting with 1/4 tsp.

A wooden spoon and stir sticks

Glass measuring cups with handles

And of course you will need water, wool, heat. I like to have a paid to put hot wool in and to carry it from stove to sink as well.

If you have these you can dye anything and everything.

To start with you can leave these three "One electric frying pan and a kitchen kettle and a crock pot. " out of the picture until you want them or if you want to do smaller amounts of wool I would start with these three pieces of equipment to dye in.

Just for interest's sake, here is a note I made to help dyers get what they needed back in 2003:

What you Need to Become a Dyer

Dyes

I recommend new dyers purchase the 13 dye Majic Carpet set from Rittemere Hurst Field

( 1-800- 268-9813 )

Wool

I try to use the best possible wool I can afford. We can dye any wool using our acid dyes as well as silk & nylon.

Wetting Agents

In order to dye our wool we must make it good and wet so the dye may pass through the fibres. There are three things I use.

Liquid dish washing soap - wool must rest overnight in a pail of warm water and a few drops of this.

Jet dry - this is what I use most often. Wool need only sit in this for 10 minutes before it is ready to dye. It will also speed up the process a great deal if placed right in the dye bath. Just a minute amount is needed.

Synthrapol or Wetter than Wet - this is what is sold at Prochem Dye as the recommended wetting agent for their dyes. It has been said by some veteran dyers that it is not necessary to presoak wool at all using these, just place into your dye bath

with your wool.

Acid

To make your colour set into the wool, vinegar or citric acid crystals from Prochem or the drug store.

Equipment

BEWARE----- You should never use any household utensil for food preparation after it has been used to dye wool.

Dye pans- I use the following , enamelled refrigerator bottoms, medical enamel trays and pans,old, pots no longer viable for cooking, electric frying pans, steamer, aluminum foil, cling film. I long for a deep fryer.

Stirring utensils- I like to use tongs,wooden rulers,wooden spoons.

Measures - glass measuring cups, jar with measures on the sides, measuring spoons from 1/8 th tsp. to 1Tbsp. for dye solution and dry dye measuring spoons 1/128th ,1/64th and a big supply of MacDonald’s coffee stir spoons (NOTE: no longer available in North America so sad.)

Jars - You can never have too many of these. I save the large spaghetti sauce ones to do swatches. Smaller ones I use to store and mix dye solutions. Save as many as you can store.

Safety Equipment - rubber gloves and a mask to wear while measuring dry dye, damp newspapers to attract flying dye particles or a damp piece of wool.