Introduction to Procion Fabric Dyeing

In this two day workshop you will learn the basics of dyeing natural fibres with Procion dyes

Overview

It is a technique workshop where you will produce your own unique fabric to include in your projects to make them truly expressions of your individuality. On day one you will learn how to prepare your fabric, mix your dyes and we will explore several different techniques that will produce a multitude of patterns and results. On day two we will add thickening to the dyes and continue to experiment and play.
By the end of this course, you will have a variety of uniquely dyed fabric
Pre-requisites: none
Materials: please see the materials list included below.
Please note, this is an in-studio program.
Please contact programs@niagarapumphouse.ca for any questions.

Materials List

The below list is of equipment it would be handy to bring. The ones starred are must haves.

*Wear old clothes and bring an apron that you won't mind getting dye on
*Rubber gloves
*Old wash cloth sized rags to wipe up with
*Bucket or pail
Small foam paint roller (available at Home Depot or Lowes) I recommend buying a pkg of four
rollers to use with different colours of dye
*3 or 4 scrapers of varying sizes (paint department at Home Depot or Lowes)
A couple of wooden or plastic spatulas with long handles for stirring dye
Roll of blue tape (share one roll between three or four people)
Roll of duct tape for taping out silk screens ( share this also)
*6 to 10 quart size plastic yogurt or other food containers
Green painters tape in various widths ( I ordered mine on Amazon) (share this also)
Silk screens of various sizes at lease two or three (I found the best deals on Amazon I believe)
Notebook, camera, for record keeping
*Scissors
Rotary cutter: small size is best but regular size works. Also rotary circle cutter if you have one.
Things for printing....stencils, cut outs, things with slightly raised surfaces
A piece of cardboard ( three feet by two feet would be good )
A piece of wire that is bendable into different shapes
Squirt bottles of various sizes if you have them ( small nozzles preferably)
Xacto knife
A hunk of batting. Enough to cover a 6' to 8' table and plastic table cloth.
Spray bottle

Before Class please prepare fabric, any of these following options will work well:

Fabric
Ten to fifteen meters of fabrics. If you want more bring it. It is amazing the amount of fabric
you print once you get going.
*PFD cotton (prepared for dyeing). I used Test Fabrics #419 testfabric.com but any PFD is
acceptable.
G&S dyes in Toronto is my preferred Canadian supplier.
*Commercially printed fabrics can also be over printed
*Old linen table clothes are fabulous for printing
*Lightweight canvas and silk can also be printed.

Preparing Fabric: Soda Ash Soak
In a large bucket mix two gallons of water and two cups sodium carbonate (soda ash) (pool
supply stores) add 2 to 3 yards of fabric and let soak for 15 or 20 minutes. Ring out lightly and
hang on line to dry. G&S Dyes in Richmond Hill carries soda ash. You can purchase Arm and
Hammer So Clean Super Washing Soda Detergent at Canadian Tire. It has a very high soda
ash content just add a bit more.

*****DO NOT PUT IN DRYER*****It smokes and then catches fire and you ruin your dryer and
end up with three fire engines in your drive way!!! Ask me about this!!!
Don't iron when dry. Just smooth out and fold. This can be done well in advance.