Salsa Jar Dyeing

Salsa Jar Dyeing

Having dyed pieces of fabric is a great way to explore color for fabric artists. It makes it easy to find new color combinations and it gives a more accurate representation of the colors than can be obtained in charts and catalogues.

Low water immersion dyeing is well suited to this purpose as the results give a range of values of an individual hue. Furthermore, in the case of colors created from mixtures of dyes, it shows how the dyes can separate in bleeds. It is very fast and easy.

This procedure was developed to make it easier for artists accustomed to direct application tie-dyeing. Rather than mixing a special dye stock, you use dye as mixed for tie-dyeing. Every time you mix a new batch of dye, all you have to do is reserve 2 ounces for a quarter yard of fabric. (If you would prefer to just mix up a little dye for this procedure simply add about 1/2 teaspoon of dye and 1/2 rounded teaspoon of urea to 2 ounces of water.)

All you need is a 14-18 ounce jar, 1/4 yard of white cotton fabric, 1/4 cup measure, 1/4 cup mixed dye for tie-dyeing, some warm water and soda ash solution (one round Tablespoon of soda ash for 2 cups of water).

1.   Take1/4 yard of cotton fabric and wad it up.
2.   Press the fabric into the jar.
3.   Pour 1/4 cup of warm water over the fabric, pressing the fabric to distribute the water,
4.   Measure 1/4 cup of dye solution over the fabric.
5.   Pour the dye solution over the fabric.
6.   Manipulate the fabric by pressing it, stirring it, and/or turning it over in the jar. The more you move the fabric the more evenly dyed it will appear. For greater variation, manipulate the fabric less. Let the fabric sit in the dye for about 15 minutes.
7.   Measure 1/4 cup of the soda ash solution and pour it over the dyed fabric.
8.   Again, manipulate the fabric in the jar. More handling results in more even color and less handling allows more variation. Let the fabric sit in the jar for at least 1 hour. It can be left longer—several hours or even overnight.

When completed, rinse and launder the fabric as you would any other newly dyed item.