This is how I dye my own pieces of Lugana. I am not a professional dyer but this is an easy simple way that works for me.
Please note that my favourite fabric to stitch on is 25 count Lugana and this will sometimes dyes lighter that a pure cotton or linen.
What you will need -
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2 or 3 sturdy cups that are only used for dye.
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A half and a one teaspoon measuring spoon.
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A flat plastic tray or similar that drains into your sink.
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I use Rit dye. I have a variety of colours but you can mix the colours, so you don't need to buy too many.
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An old towel to dry the finished piece of fabric.
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A paint brush.
This is the basic method I use for each piece.
I cut my fabric to approximately 30cms square or your desired size and paint the dye onto the fabric rather than submerge it in the dye solution.
I use half a teaspoon of dye to a third of a cup of hot water. Add slightly more dye or more water depending on the intensity you are after.
With a paint brush dab the dye mixture onto the thoroughly wet fabric that is lying on a flat tray next to the sink. I like the mottled effect with more dye in some places than others. When the fabric looks as though is has enough colour ( remembering that it will dry lighter than it looks now) leave on the tray for 10 mins. Then rinse thoroughly under warm water until the water runs clear. Hold the fabric up straight - don't wring it out. This way you will have a nice flat piece of fabric with no nasty wrinkles. Leave to dry overnight on an old towel.
Exact details of how much dye I used for each design are listed below.
Poppy fabric
Cut the 25 count Lugana to 30 cms square and use the basic method above.
Cup 1 - half a teaspoon of yellow to one third cup of hot water.
Cup 2 - half a teaspoon of tangerine to one third cup of hot water.
Cup 3 - half teaspoon of yellow, half teaspoon of tangerine and half tsp of cherry red to about one third cup of hot water.
It is a good idea to have a scrap of fabric nearby to try the colour on.
Thoroughly wet the fabric as described above.
Paint the centre with yellow going round and round in a swirling motion.
Working out from the edge of the yellow, merge the tangerine dye around the yellow. Finally add the dye from Cup 3 painting some across the top and bottom. You can go over any area several times. Leave for 10 mins and proceed as above to complete the process.
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Have Credit Card - Will Cross Stitch
Cut the 25 count Lugana to 30cms square
Cup 1 - half a teaspoon of Tangerine to one third of a cup of hot water.
Cup 2 - half a teaspoon of Yellow to one third of a cup of water.
Cup 3 - half teaspoon of Cherry Red to one third cup water
Thoroughly wet the material as described above.
Dab yellow dye randomly on the fabric. Wait 15 mins, rinse and leave to dry.
Wet the fabric again and once again dab the dye in the white sections with orange and cherry red. Proceed as above to complete the process.
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Fabric for Violets - still to be stitched
Cut the 25 count Lugana to 30cms square
Cup 1 - half a teaspoon of Purple to one third of a cup of hot water.
Cup 2 - a quarter teaspoon of Purple to one third of a cup of water.
Thoroughly wet the material as described above.
Dab randomly about with the darker of the two dyes, then swirl about with the weaker solution between to cover all the white fabric.
Proceed as above to complete the process.
When the fabric is completely dry and you would like it to be darker , simply repeat the process.
It Just Fell into my Cart - still to be stitched
Cut the 25 count Lugana to 30cms square
Cup 1 - half a teaspoon of Apple Green to one third of a cup of hot water.
Cup 2 - a quarter teaspoon of Apple Green to one third of a cup of water.
Thoroughly wet the material as described above.
Dab randomly about with the darker of the two dyes, then swirl about with the weaker solution between to cover all the white fabric.
Proceed as above to complete the process.
When the fabric is completely dry and you would like it to be darker , simply repeat the process.
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Other fabrics
All the fabric to the right has been dyed in the same way as above.
Use one colour with less dye or more water to achieved a mottled effect or alternately using three different colours.
Different effects can be achieved by merging one colour with another, simply by swirling the loaded brush next to the first colour.
Painting the dye in strips of colour is effective especially for beach scenes.
Most of all have fun while you experiment with these small pieces of fabric and minimal amounts of liquid dye.
