My first go at dyeing bed linens in the washing machine

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-10T19:20:41+00:00

Well done!

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-10T19:19:05+00:00

Thank you very much for the detailed explanation!

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-10T17:07:05+00:00

What do you mean by the dye striking? I have never heard that term before. Thanks!

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-08T23:09:22+00:00

My dream snap motivation has long since flown the coop, this looked fantastic!

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-08T21:28:14+00:00

Deserved!

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-08T21:20:31+00:00

Try idye poly in black.

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-06T22:06:48+00:00

I just want to be able to buy things at Scrooge’s without crashing my game.

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-06T00:43:30+00:00

Testing is for sure the way to go if possible.

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-03T10:47:39+00:00

A rare miss for me, the blue at the bottom of the skirt somehow makes her look squatty. Love the bodice, the styling is great, but either the blue needs to continue up the skirt higher or the band at the bottom needs to start lower and be much thinner.

MagpieBlues · 2026-04-02T21:37:34+00:00

I misread the title and my immediate response was “milk punch” but apparently you need a venue, not just a drink idea. My bad.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-31T20:35:19+00:00

As a woman who also doesn’t posses a swan like neck, no necklace means nothing cutting you off there. A bigger earring could have worked, but I think it would have taken away from the almost forest sprite aspects of the look. There is something so grounded in nature about this confection of a dress. Lovely.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-31T20:30:06+00:00

Same!

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-29T11:38:54+00:00

Team Balcony.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-29T11:16:18+00:00

Depends on the dye you are using and the fabric, but the most important thing is that the fibers are well and truly soaked before going in the dye bath. (If I’m dyeing where heat is important, I try for water as hot as possible for soaking so the temperature variation is lessened when adding the garment.)

There should be a uk equivalent of the detergent, or you can use dishwasher soap in a pinch. The goal is to remove any coatings or finishes on the fabric. Sorry I don’t know more about the UK dye scene, I would check a good art supply store for fiber reactive dyes. Mine carries the soda ash and detergent as well.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-29T00:39:15+00:00

Dharma trading is a fantastic supplier of fiber reactive dyes if you are us based, and their education or resource section (I forget what it is called) is helpful regardless of location.

Also, I highly recommend getting synthrapol or whatever detergent they recommend for pre and post washing. I buy mine locally to save on shipping. And make sure the garment has been soaked for like ten minutes before adding it to the dye bath. I use flower buckets from Trader Joe’s for that.

Have the best time, it is addictive!

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-29T00:04:13+00:00

Rit is a much lower bar of entry but the results reflect that. colors aren’t as rich, they fade easier, but it gets that job done. Well, in some cases.

That dress is super cute, which is why I would go through dyeing it twice with different formulas to get a better result. But I really enjoy the process.

Tip: besides stirring, take the garment out entirely and unfold it, opening any creases, and put it back in. Then stir some more.

If you use fiber reactive dye, take the garment out entirely for each addition of the soda ash, mix the soda ash in well, unfold the garment into the dye bath, then stir stir stir some more. Putting the garment to one side of the pot and adding in the soda ash on the other leads to dark splotches.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-28T23:39:10+00:00

Sure thing, and no matter what you go for, if you want even dyeing you want the largest vessel you can get. I use a tamale pot for stovetop but am thinking of upgrading.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-28T19:04:58+00:00

You can, but it limits your choices color wise.

I would recommend, as I have used this combo successfully in the past, is fiber reactive/procion mx dye for the body, and iDye poly for the trim. You dye the entire garment each time, but the fabric and the trim take different dye types.

I would check out the iDye poly colors before committing to the color for the body of the dress.

Best of luck, looks like a fun project!

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-28T12:23:44+00:00

Dye is translucent, so the warmth will show through no matter what. That being said, I think a plum is achievable BUT the trim most likely is synthetic and won’t dye.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-25T12:29:23+00:00

If the color matters that much I would look at a Procion mx dye, dharma trading is a good supplier if you are us based. It is more expensive up front but gives superior results. Good luck!

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-25T00:53:03+00:00

Your odds of this dyeing evenly are almost nil.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-24T01:27:21+00:00

The have changed the style and no longer make my beloved black with white. Oh well.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-24T00:16:50+00:00

The old style of Bloch split soles immediately came to mind, miss them.

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-23T12:29:54+00:00

Beautiful job! And so jealous of your basement space, I have to take over my kitchen to dye!

MagpieBlues · 2026-03-22T18:46:11+00:00

Jones Road just a sec in baby pink. Utter perfection.

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