If you are going to use a natural pigment, you may want to pre-treat the fabric before proceeding, because natural dyes tend not to be as vivid as many others. Once you're done, fix the color with a solution of water, white vinegar, and salt. Wash the freshly dyed garment on its own in the drum for one or two washes. Finally, keep the shades bright by always washing it in cold water. You can protect dyed clothes by adding vinegar and baking soda to the washing machine.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Pretreat the Fabric Before Applying Natural Pigments
Step 1. Fill a large pot with a fixative solution
Pour in the salt and / or vinegar. Add enough cold water to soak the fabric.
- For the berry tincture, use 140g of salt per 1.80L of water.
- For vegetable tinctures, use one part of vinegar for every four parts of water.
Step 2. Immerse the fabric in the boiling solution
Bring it to a boil over high heat. Turn the heat down to medium-low heat to keep it boiling. Add the fabric and let the solution simmer for an hour.
You can use a pair of forceps to dip the fabric into the solution without burning yourself
Step 3. Remove the fabric
Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool. Remove the garment from the pot and squeeze it. Hand wash it with just cold water.
If you are in a hurry, you can empty the pot and immediately cool the fabric by placing it in the sink under cold water
Part 2 of 3: Setting the Color After Dyeing
Step 1. Dilute the vinegar in a large glass bucket or bowl
Pour in 240-480 ml of vinegar. Add a generous sprinkle of sea salt or table salt. Pour in enough cold water to soak the fabric.
- If you use the bowl, one or two teaspoons of salt are enough, but increase the amount if you use the bucket.
- If you use the bowl, pour in 240 ml of vinegar, or 480 if you use the bucket.
Step 2. Let the fabric soak for a while
Put on a pair of gloves before handling it while dyeing, then put it in the solution. Turn it with your hands so that it gets wet and completely absorbs the solution.
Let it soak for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour
Step 3. Wash it in the washing machine
Take the fabric from the basin or bucket and wring it out. Put it in the washing machine. Add 140g of table salt and 240ml of white vinegar if desired. Choose a cold water program. Do not remove the centrifuge. Once the washing is done, put it to dry.
- Do not add other items to the drum the first or second time you wash the knot-dyed item.
- Adding salt and vinegar is optional. Make sure it is not contraindicated for your washing machine.
- During the first wash, no laundry detergent is required. If you wish, just pour in a small amount.
Part 3 of 3: Protect the Color
Step 1. Wash the fabric in cold water
Do not use hot or lukewarm water to wash knot-dyed garments. Choose a cold water program and use a detergent designed for color protection.
Step 2. Add baking soda to the washing machine
Pour in 90 g while the washing machine is running. Alternatively, use a liquid laundry detergent that contains baking soda.
- The bicarbonate allows dyed fabrics to maintain their brightness.
- Plus, it can deodorize the washing machine!
Step 3. Pour in the vinegar while rinsing
Add 60ml of white vinegar if the load is small and 120ml if it is large. Use this trick to keep colors vivid and also to soften garments without using chemical additives.
- The vinegar softens the tissues by dissolving minerals, soap and encrusted residues.
- It also has an antimicrobial action, safer than that produced by chemicals.
