Join us for our annual dye day, our final meeting of the 2022-2023 year! We will have our annual dye day. after the meeting. Join us “behind” the building at Oatland in the picnic table area. Here are directions for prep:

We will have 2 cold vats of indigo, a hot vat of cochineal (red) and a hot vat of either Osage orange or marigold. We will also have pans for ice dyeing. Please prepare you fiber ahead of Dye Day!

Here is how!
Please do not bring wool. You can bring cotton, linen, silk or bamboo. Please do not bring yardage or large skeins of yarn. You can bring scarves, t shirts, small pieces of fabric, napkins, pillow case etc. Natural dyes will not work on synthetic fibers. All fabric must be scoured before dye day. Scouring the fabric removes dirt, starch and oils from the fabric that came from manufacture or wear. Machine wash is not enough. See instructions below.
Any items that you wish to dye in the natural dye pots must be mordanted. A mordant is a mineral salt (alum) that then is applied to the fabric before dying. It creates a chemical bond on the fabric that the dye adheres to. With out a mordant, the dye will not stick to the fabric. See directions below.

Ice dying does not require a mordant as the dye used is chemical based. Items need to be scoured.
What to bring:
Fabric to dye
Rubber gloves
Clamps, wood blocks, rubber bands, anything to create a resist.
Plastic bags to take home wet fabric.
LUNCH
Please wear old clothes and shoes

How To scour:
Take a large pot, fill with water, dawn dish soap and a couple of tablespoons of soda ash or washing soda. Place items in pot and bring to boil for 15 minutes. Rinse well. Repeat if necessary. DO NOT BOIL SILK! Bring pot to below boiling and hold simmering for 15 minutes.

How To Mordant:
Take a large pot or bucket. Dissolve 4 tablespoons of alum. (you can find alum in the spice section of the grocery store) You may need warm water to get the alum completely dissolved. Add your fabric and let soak overnight. Do not rinse. Line dry or bring damp to dye day.
Tips! It is easier to fold and clamp if your fabric is dry. You prepare your folded or stitched fabric ahead of Dye day. We have books in our guild library on folding and clamping cloth for indigo. YouTube has tutorials for those who wish to have a head start.
Please call me (Janet) at 404-276-3694 if you have questions!