Hello, I was wondering if someone could tell me where to get soda ash (I've never actually even heard of it) for tye-dye pre soak. I am going to a tye dye fest next weekend and they recommend doing your own pre soak. Thanks
I usually get mine at the local craft store. Out here where i am i get it from pat catans, but i dont think that store goes out to where you live. But i would check any craft store or fabric store even. Im sure someone will carry it.
and also on the laundy aisle as washing soda! Arm and hammer. For a one-time party, the box is fine. Get hooked and hit the pool suppliers for 50 lbs. I think we use 1 C to 5 gal water that has been left out overnight to de-chlorinate. (I don't usually mix, I'm clean up.)
OK, Thanks, Sounds pretty common. Can anyone give me any insight on the tye dye process (pre soak)? I'm fairly new to tye dying. I organized a tye dye booth in college with my organization but I didn't really have any idea what I was doing and just let those who knew what they were doing take over. I haven't tye dyed since. Thanks for all the help!!!
If you go to www.dharmatrading.com and look around, they have instructions on soda ash/water ratios, how long you soak, etc. You should not soak the fabric from more than an hour in the soda ash solution. It can weaken the fabric. Soda ash works by SLIGHTLY breaking down the fabrics so that the fiber reactive dyes can bond to the broken molecules to form a long lasting color. As a rule, you should prewash any fabrics that you are going to dye. It helps the color take better by removing all of the treatments and "sizings" from the fabric. It is easiest to get tight designs *ie spirals* if you work with the fabrics right out of the prewash. Wet fabrics are easier to get into a tight design. If you have any other questions...feel free to pm me Peace, Blessings, and Happy Dying
99% of tie dye kits contain a pack of it... but ya, craft stores ought to carry it, if they have material dye, they'll have soda ash.
hey feelin' grrovy: dharma does have a good how-to, but for what you need here goes: 5 gal bucket for soaking shirts/socks/whatever (natural fibers ONLY) in that 4 1/2 gal, mix about a cup of soda ash/washing soda. see my above post: chlorine is your avowed enemy when dyeing. Let the water sit overnight befor mixing. Also, after a few days the mix will STINK, esp if a stray bit of fabric is left in there..like gloves...retch... you have procion dyes? yes? you don't? get them the Jacquard kit is procion MX powder dye. Some upscale art places have it. Dharma, unfortantely is slow, but they have great kits and will customize. If you have RIT, slap yourself. the dyes will have a mix ratio. Are you using squirt bottles or sponge brushes or both?
