While I had the dye-pot filled with blue dye, I took the opportunity to do another little dyeing experiment I’ve been dying to try out (hehe, little play on words there, see, see?)
I made this wrap top “f” from the Japanese pattern book Unique Clothes Any Way You Like, by Natsuno Hiraiwa, using the piece of creamy coloured knit stuff leftover from after I had made this top. This is a very very easy pattern btw, simply a flat asymmetrical half ellipse, with two armholes cut out in the middle. I edged the armholes with bias strips of the same fabric as recommended, for strength and some extra stability in the armholes, but didn’t hem as this fabric doesn’t fray. Also it is quite thick and substantial, and I thought a hem would have been too bulky and spoilt the smooth ripply effect of the fall of cloth.
Couldn’t be easier!
Now for the dyeing bit of it….
Now the most significant part of the dyeing phase is the first few seconds, when you first immerse your fabric. That is why whenever I’ve read about people’s dyeing experiments on the internet and they pause to take a few photos of their fabric partway dunked into the dye bath, you just know they are going to end up with a blotchy dye job… The best way to get an nice evenly distributed colour is to have your fabric thoroughly soaked through, and then dunk it in the dye bath firmly and decisively in one quick movement, then to swirl and whoosh it (technical terms there) around as thoroughly as possible for the first minute or so. This is when the majority of the dye will take. So, since I had dyed my skirt in this for the requisite thirty minutes already, I knew the dye wouldn’t have much oomph left in it (another highly technical term there). But I was OK with a lighter blue outcome. For a bit of a smudgy colour (yet more techno-jargon) I decided to add a bit of coffee to the colour mix. No, not coffee-coloured dye, but some actual genuine coffee. Although my husband doesn’t view this as real coffee at all, but let’s not get into that debate!… I added half a jar of this instant coffee to the dye bath, and away we went.
Fully soaked fabric,
into the dye bath.
I stood holding it half dunked in like this, slowly moving it further down into the pot over a few minutes time, and trying to separate and move the folds about, both as thoroughly as I dared and as gently as I could to get the fabric reasonably evenly immersed and not to allow any folded bits to stay stuck together. Then I moved the whole shebang (‘nother technical term, hehe, I’m going all out today!) over to the table where I had set up this arrangement. I took this photo later after everything was washed and cleaned up; I had other stuff to do and forgot to take a photo during, but this is just how it looked…)
After a good thirty minutes like this I rinsed it out and hung it flat as I could out on the line to air dry.
Now, obviously this dye pot with its small surface area presentation is not the ideal way to dip-dye, or this fabric has particularly good capillary qualities, because in the two areas where the fabric was bunched and folded in front of the armholes you can just see where the blue dye crept up up and up by itself separately from the brown coffee component while it was sitting half in the dye bath. You might not be able to see it very well it is quite subtle… BUT it is there.
That, my friends, is known as capillary action, and is the basis of chromatography. Little science lesson for you there… I used to work with different chromatography systems every day when I was an analytical chemist. Ancient history now, hehe.
So there it is. I’m happy, and love the smudgy subtle colour I got here. I’m extremely pleased with the graduation of colour from dark to light, it is way better than I could have hoped for! The little bit of chromatography up in front of the armholes is slightly disappointing, but I can live with it as it is pretty unobtrusive, and is covered up with the folded collar when I’m wearing it.
(Later edit: I tossed the wrap in the washing machine, and the “chromatography” effect has disappeared! My wrap is now just as I wanted! SCORE!!)
Details:
Wrap; “f” from Unique Clothes Any Way You Like by Natsuno Hiraiwa, cream coloured knit stuff, dip-dyed in iDye Poly in Blue and coffee
Top; Ezibuy
Skirt; skirt “d” from Unique Clothes Any Way You Like, but Natsuno Hiraiwa, details here, and to see this skirt styled in 6 different ways go here
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough
Love it Cazza. Dip dying is the thing at the mo it seems. Interesting with the coffee. Enjoyed all the techno-jargan too. I tried dip dying some linen but derr, forgot to wet it first and didn't let it to sit for long enough but it's ok… not sure what i'll make with it though. Catchya chickadee. xo
Love the simplicity of this top. Dip dyeing looks great, but I'm not sure I'd have the courage.
Chromatography was one of my favorite lessons and labs when I taught. I love the effect you got, and I love that outfit. Today I dyed some gray cargo pants I bought at the thrift store. They are silk, hemp and lyocell…very fancy looking fabric for such a utilitarian design. I'll wear them tomorrow and try to get a pic. I just used a gray dye as I loved the original color, but not the white spots someone had done to the pants. (wine?)
the result is really lovely. An experiment that worked…and I love your technical language. I'm wondering what the diameter of the half circle is to begin with.
Dip dye is definitely on my to do list. Your dyed wrap looks great!
I have never really dyed fabric before except by accident in the washing machine! The tie dye looks great. I will have to put that book on my must have list.
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I agree with your other half…Moccona isn't real coffee but, in my opinion, the next best thing.
What a groovy and interesting pattern and dye-job. I really like the effect you've created with the dye. Makes for a very eye-catching garment.
It is such a pity I am reading this at 8pm on a weeknight. If it was Saturday morning I would be building a highly technical dyeing construction to hang from my picnic table for a dip dying experiment. I love your outcome and your adventurousness in getting there.
What a nice dye job. It's subtle yet very interesting.
I'm gunna have ta try this. I just love the dip dye effect. Please tell…where can I purchase the iDye?
I've been wanting to dip dye for a year now. I even have a garment I made a year ago for the purpose. If I ever follow through, I plan to refer to this!!
So many of those cool Japanese garments wouldn't work on me, but look great on you!
Carolyn, this i genius! It looks amazing being worn & it's so simple when you lie it out flat. I'm enjoying your adventures with dye!Your dip dying instructions are something I'll store for another day …
It came out lovely! Such soft colors. I've not tacked this book yet, but I have it and it's on my 'to do' list.
What a beautiful garment – subtle but lovely.
Turned out beautifully and looks fabulous with your outfit. Love the lingo. You've mentioned this dye brand several times and it seems to produce great results. I can mail order so I'll give it a try. Is it for synthetics only? Blends? Naturals? What do you use for those?
Waouh! You did an terrific job! The gradation is so subtle! It is just enough to outline the bottom part without looking 'home-made tie-dye'.
really really nice…
Your wit slays me! Plus, I love the ombre look (is that right?) from your dye experiment. That subtle color change is to die for. (Ha!)
Ooh, fun. So artsy! I just read about an art lesson on chromatography using sharpies and rubbing alcohol. I guess the alcohol is a solvent for permanent markers. You can do funky tie-dye designs on fabric and it remains permanent in the wash.
I'm wondering if you left the top half of the garment dry would the dye not creep up? I'm not sure, but I LOVE the effect. Keep dying so I can learn more!
Wow! Looks wonderful! I'm glad that I'm not the only one who uses such "technical" language when explaining things.
Love your top F. That's on the top of my to-make list, and I bought just the right striped jersey last Friday for it.
Coincidentally, I also worked in in analytical chemistry as an undergrad (while sewing after class). Here's one of my oldest self-sewn things.
http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2009/11/time-in-box-and-statistics.html
@Myrna
You can buy iDye formulated for both polyesters and natural fabrics from Dharma Trading.
http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/5590684-AA.shtml?lnav=dyes.html
I have ordered from them many times and they are super nice, speedy and don't gouge you on shipping.
OOOh, love the dip dyeing and your wonderful result. Must consider this with some light colored wool that I was going to sell.
What a great wrap! So simple, but elegant, and the touch of silvery blue is beautiful. I love the way you teamed the flowy fabrics with the tough boots, too.
At the risk of repeating myself (I seem to say the same thing when I comment on your blog), but that is absolutely incredible! I want to give this a try!
Thanks for sharing your post. I am going to attempt my first experience with dye tomorrow. Your advice on the first plunge will be very helpful.
Love your wrap. The look is beautiful!
This turned out beautifully, well done!
I so have to try this! I am used to working with dye as a all over color…over dyeing my quilt fabrics but have never done any for clothing. Wonder why the heck not. Yours is wonderful!
It turned out really lovely! Dyeing seems like one of the gutsier sewing techniques – it's not so easy to "muslin" your efforts unless you use the exact piece of fabric.
Besides the dyeing, I love the garment itself. Nothing porky about it (sorry, just catching up on all your recent posts, and still shaking my head over that strange one…)
Sweet, Carolyn. I love that you shared your chemical expertise. I was trying to be funny with my comment in reply… but it is so difficult to portray tone in online comments, isn't it? I also love finding out more about you. This sewing blog seems to scratch the surface of the many facets of your character.
And, I see your knowledge of chromatography helped out with this creation, too. Congrats on being a featured member project on BurdaStyle.
Thanks for stopping by to enter the skirt kit giveaway.
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