A vast resource for dyers, this section contains textile dyes, mordants and chemicals for all fibres and dyeing techniques, including Batik, Natural Dyeing and Discharge Dyeing. The dye you order should be determined by the fibre content of the material you wish to dye plus the technique you will be using.
Continue reading for help with choosing the correct dye for the job!Fibre reactive Procion MX dyes are for cellulose fibres such as cotton, viscose and linen, as well as the protein silk. These dyes are used in cold water and especially useful for Batik and other resist techniques.
The Acid Dyes which work best on protein fibres such as silk and wool, and some synthetics such as nylon, also include the liquid H Dupont Classique Steam Fix dyes which are used by silk painters and batik artists. There are also the Acid Discharge dyes, which can be removed from fabric with discharge paste, and the Acid Illuminating dyes which can be combined with the discharge paste to replace the colour removed. Acid dyes require a hot water dye bath, as do the general purpose Deka L direct dyes.
Polyester is very difficult to dye given that the dye vat needs extremely high temperatures to create strong colours. Disperse Dyes provide fair results and improve when made into a heat transfer paint. Choose from the Fibrecrafts Disperse Dyes or Jacquard iDye Poly.
In this section you will also find the popular and traditional dyes for natural dyeing and the most well known dye of all time – indigo.
The various mediums include thickeners such as Manutex to give dyes more viscosity for painting, printing and screen printing, resists such as waxes for Batik techniques, discharge pastes for removing colour from dyed fabrics, soda ash to help set some of the dyes and to make them washfast, as well as a number of other mediums for enhancing colours or improving the solubility.
Simple recipes for the natural dyes and synthetic dyes and further information about all our dyes can be found in Blog FAQs.
Colour Charts
We have included colour charts to help you make your selection when ordering dye colours. The charts are provided as an indication of colour and although we have tried to present them as accurately as possible, there will be variations depending on your monitor settings. The brightness, contrast and room conditions will all effect the colour you see.
PFD – Prepared for Dyeing?
Before dyeing your yarn, fabric or fibre, it is important to check whether the item is ‘Prepared for Dyeing’ (PFD) or requires scouring to remove any grease, oil or starch which may have soiled the material during manufacture and handling.
Although many undyed items are sold as ‘Prepared for Dyeing’ (PFD) it is good practice to ensure that the item is thoroughly clean because certain soiling will repel dye or hinder the dyes ability to absorb into the fibres. As it is necessary to wet fabric before adding it to a dye bath, cleaning the fabric is just one additional step to ensuring a satisfying result.
To remove starches, size and oils, add 5mls of Synthrapol (a non-ionic detergent) along with 2-3 litres of water for each 100g of material. Stir gently over a 15 min period, and then rinse thoroughly in warm water. It is possible to use household detergent, although the alkaline residue may affect the final colour or wash fastness.
