I’m beginning to realize that dyeing fabric is an endless process of learning. Although I can now predict much better what my results might be, I still miss the mark pretty routinely. And, of course, I’m still trying new things, so I can always count on surprises with that.
But it sure is a heck of a lot of fun. In part for these very reasons. The unpredictability is exciting. Case in point:
I was pretty happy with this print, seen here wet.
I should have remembered that the colors would be MUCH paler once dry. Indeed that was the case and I dyed it again with stronger versions of the same colors. I also covered a little more of the white with that second round.
And, it still wasn’t dark enough so I repeated the process. This time, however, I wasn’t disciplined enough to leave the white alone. So, t his is what I got.
The colors are strong, which is what I wanted, but it would definitely be more usable if I had left some white. Maybe I’ll stamp some on.
Next, I tried using clear thickened paste as a resist.
It actually worked pretty well. This is the back, shown below. The pattern shows up better than on the front, but I’m not sure how pretty it is. I think I’ll aim for a more delicate design next time.
Still learning. And loving it.
Ellen Lindner
Love this idea! I would like to try the same, but I am not sure what “clear paste” means. I am from Poland and we don’t have it here I suppose. So I will have to use substitute. Could you please help me: is this paste some kind of wax (used for batiks), or is it hydrogen peroxide paste, or chlorine?
Thank you for sharing your ideas with us! <3
Hi Joanna,
The clear paste is something I mix from a powdered form. It’s meant to thicken dye, so you can use it the way you would paint. Typically, I mix dye powder with the thick clear paste, but in this case I put it down first, as a resist. See this YouTube video about using thickenrd dye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpVko3KBlcwSee And see this web page for more instructions: https://prochemicalanddye.net/downloads/dl/file/id/97/product/0/direct_application_using_pro_mx_directions.pdf (I use method 5.)
I hope you get to try it!
Is the paste flour and water or something else? What type of paint is that in the bottle? Looks like acrylic, but I thought that wouldn’t be permanent.
A fabric dying class in the future, or too messy? Love your art work ❤️
Thanks for posting the process
Hi Cindy,
The clear paste is made as a thickener for dye. If dyes are thickened they can be used like paint and they’ll hold the line of a design. Typically, you’d mix dye powder with the clear print paste, but in this application I used it first, as a resist. What looks like paint in the squirt bottle is actually my thickened dye.
As you suspected – yes, very messy! Check out this YT video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpVko3KBlcw
P.S. Cindy, flour and water paste can also be used as a resist. It’s generally painted all over and allowed to dry. It cracks and when the dye is painted on it seeps through. (I haven’t tried this and I’m not sure whether the dye is in a liquid state or thickened.)