Mixing dye to be applied with a bottle
There are many methods that require you to apply dye with an applicator bottle. Below are some of our test pieces we made just by dabbing and folding the fabric in a tray, randomly applying colour and then over spraying with soda ash solution.
One very simple way is to mix the dye solution for the colour applicator bottle and then mix a separate solution with soda ash that you can pour in to a spray bottle. The soda ash solution will be used to overspray your fabric once the colour has been applied.
To make up 150 ml of dye solution
- Place ½ a teaspoon of dye or between 1-2 g of dye powder in a small measuring jug. Add a dash of hot water and stir until you have a smooth paste.
- Add 150 ml of hand hot water to the mixture and stir thoroughly so all the dye has absorbed. Leave to stand for a while and stir again then pour mixture in to a suitable applicator bottle.
- Dissolve approx. 5 – 10g of soda ash in to 500 ml of tepid water.
- Pour in to suitable spray bottle.
- This is a very simple method. You first apply the colour in whichever way you have decided. By applying dye with applicator bottles you can create all sorts of folding, rumpled and rainbow effects. After you have applied the colour, you can spray the soda solution on top.
- Give the fabric a really good wetting, leave to stand for a few hours or overnight then rinse and dye.
Some experiments in purple using the Procion MX bottle application recipe.
