Thank you all for the great tips! I think I will try to dye some of my own fabric instead of buying it. Its very expensive and this sounds pretty simple.
Acrylic paint is a surface paint, not a dye. This means that it sits on the surface of the item it is applied to. When you dilute it down in water, the fine particles of the pigment soak into the thr
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Post time 2013-5-11 15:42
I have lots of acrylic paints, but I never thought of using them to dye fabric Ill have to give ...
Acrylic paint is a surface paint, not a dye. This means that it sits on the surface of the item it is applied to. When you dilute it down in water, the fine particles of the pigment soak into the threads of the fabric, and then when it dries they just sit there.
A dye on the other hand chemically bonds with the item it is used on, so if you fix it correctly (vinegar/citric acid is a common fixative for some kinds of dyes, especially those made to work on animal fibers) then the color is permanant.
In a piece of needlework, it may not be THAT big an issue since the finished item doesnt get laundered regularly the way a hand knit item like socks or a clothing item might, so acrylic might be ok. I have no idea about if it will cause any sort of reaction with the threads and fabrics though, so Id be cautious about using any method that leaves free pigment that is not bonded with the fibers in the thread for a piece that youre wanting to be of heirloom quality.
Thanks tcca! I didnt think about that. Just when I read the reply about the acrylics, I thought IF I ever run out of fabrics, I could experiment. I think Im good as far as fabric goes for a LONG
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Post time 2013-5-12 01:11
Acrylic paint is a surface paint, not a dye. This means that it sits on the surface of the item it ...
Thanks tcca! I didnt think about that. Just when I read the reply about the acrylics, I thought IF I ever run out of fabrics, I could experiment. I think Im good as far as fabric goes for a LONG time now! LOL!
chekccard