Procion MX dyes are the best fabric dyes for cotton, viscose and other cellulose fibres.Â
Use Fibrecrafts Procion MX dyes to dye fabric, fibres and yarn made from cotton, bamboo, flax (linen), tencel and viscose. This is a fibre reactive dye; when the colour is fixed, the dye molecule forms a permanent bond with the cellulose or protein molecule. Procion MX dyes can also be used to dye silk and wool although Acid dyes are more effective for dyeing items made from these fibres. If dyeing protein based fibres, substitute soda ash for an acidic dyebath.
As Procion MX are cold water dyes, they are particularly suitable for Batik and resist techniques.
Mix these concentrated dye powders with cold tap water to produce the best and most permanent colour. Procion MX dye is fixed with soda ash to make it wash fast. The soda ash is added directly to the dye bath for submersion dyeing. To prepare fabric for techniques such as Batik, Shibori or Tie Dye, the fabric is soaked in a solution of soda ash, and then dried, before commencing work. See here for our Procion MX dye recipe.
The Fibrecrafts Procion MX dyes are available in 22 colours in pots of 50g. With careful mixing and degrees of concentration and dilution they extend the range of tones and tints available to cover the complete spectrum of hues. A good starting point for colour mixing is the three colours Lemon Yellow, Royal Blue and Brilliant Pink. Add a small amount of Black to act as a toner, add more water/reduce the quantity of dye to produce pastel shades.
Typically, the quantities of dye range from 0.5g per 100g of dry material for pale shades, 2–3g per 100g for medium shades and 4–6g per 100g for deeper shades. To dye a deep black, it may be necessary to use up to 8–10g per 100g WOF.
These fibre reactive dyes can be kept almost indefinitely as powders in an airtight container. However, under adverse conditions, such as prolonged exposure to heat or light, they can lose some reactivity and wash fastness. In a solution, the dyes can be kept in the fridge for up to 14 days.
Please note: The MX dye component to make Brilliant Turquoise is no longer available. We have provided a substitute, Bright Turquoise. A paler, less concentrated colour will be achieved if it is dyed using the traditional cold water method. To achieve full colour, a different treatment is required to the traditional cold water dye method used for Fibrecrafts Procion MX dyes. Use the same quantity of soda ash, heat the dye bath to 50°C and maintain this temperature for 10 minutes.
