Ice Dyeing

Have you tried ice dyeing? Oh my! It produces BEAUTIFUL brilliant colors and complex patterns.

At a recent group dyeing day, Dij taught us how to do it. First, she showed us various ways to bunch, scrunch, and secure the fabric. Like tie dye, the folds in the fabric affect the way the dye penetrates and they help create the patterns.

Ice Dyeing. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Before reaching for the dyes, Dij talked to us about color selection. She has made charts showing how each dye separates into other colors, and she keeps this in mind. (Check out the black swatch, bottom right.)

Ice Dyeing. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

After manipulating our fabric, we placed it on elevated grids in plastic boxes and dumped a bunch of ice on top. Then, before grabbing the dyes we put on our dust masks.  VERY IMPORTANT

Ice Dyeing. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Next we sprinkled 3 colors of dry dye powder onto each fabric.

Ice Dyeing. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

It didn’t look too great at this point.

Ice Dyeing. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

We toted our containers home and waited for the ice to melt. (This is why the fabric was elevated: so it wouldn’t sit in the resulting puddle of mixed colors.) Then, it was time to thoroughly rinse and dry, and voila!

Ice Dyeing. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Can you believe how gorgeous these 2 fabrics are?!? The one on the left was loosely scrunched. The one of the right was folded into soft accordion folds and secured with rubber bands. I love these!

To say that all this dyeing was fun would be a huge under statement. It was joyful and exhilarating!

Ellen Lindner

 

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9 Responses to Ice Dyeing

  1. Andrea Luliak February 28, 2019 at 11:49 pm #

    Wonderful results! I am assuming you used Procion dyes. I really like the two different effects you achieved; Dij knows what she is doing since she’s done so much ice dyeing. Lucky you are to have her as a resource, says Yoda.

    • Ellen Lindner March 5, 2019 at 11:53 pm #

      Agree I do.:)

      Yes, we used Procion.

  2. Dianne March 1, 2019 at 3:50 am #

    Wow this is gorgeous! A must try!

    • Ellen Lindner March 5, 2019 at 11:54 pm #

      Yes, Dianne. It’s easy and the results are usually extraordinary!

  3. Dij Pacarro March 2, 2019 at 9:42 pm #

    Great job, Ellen! It’s so nice to see someone else getting excited about ice dying. Your fabrics came out gorgeous!!!

    • Ellen Lindner March 5, 2019 at 11:54 pm #

      Thanks, Dij. I appreciate you showing us the ropes.

  4. Marianne March 3, 2019 at 7:11 am #

    I really like these fabrics but I am always intrigued by how much dye must be put on the fabrics?
    Best regards of the Switzerland

    • Ellen Lindner March 5, 2019 at 11:55 pm #

      You’re right, Marianne. It’s something like a teaspoon per yard. (I forget the formula.) Much more than mixing dyes into solutions.

      • Marianne March 7, 2019 at 12:29 pm #

        Thank you

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