Guild Presentations

ICE DYING

Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes

Soda Ash Fixer

Textile Detergent

Dust Mask 

Rubber Gloves

Large Tub

Rack to elevate the fabric

Ice

Small strainer/colander

Ice (or Snow) Dyeing is a dyeing technique where ice or snow is used to create a unique color pattern effect on fabric. Ice or snow is used to prevent the dye from reaching some areas of the fabric (similar to tie-dye) while also causing fiber reactive dyes to “split” into some of their component colors which can generate interesting bleed and halo effects.

Pre-wash fabric with the Professional Textile Detergent. This will remove any fabric softeners, oils, dirt, etc. that might have gotten on your dyeable blanks or fabrics during manufacturing or through handling.

Mix up your soda ash, 2 cups per gallon of water, and add in your dyeable items. Let them soak for about 15 min. Pull them out and squeeze out the excess solution (wear good rubber gloves). You can save the soda ash for more dyeing later.

Place a cooling rack in a large tub.  Scrunch up the soda-soaked fabric in a random fashion, (fabric could be pleated or a tied)  and place the rack.  

Next, cover fabric in ice. Use 5-10 pounds of cubed or crushed ice.  Cover the fabric as much as you can, as areas with no ice will likely end up staying white as the ice melts. Crushed ice may make it easier to cover everything without the ice falling off.

Use a dust mask before opening and using the dye powder.  Choose your first color and sprinkle the dye powder on the ice. Be as random or as specific as you want with how you spread the dye.  As the ice melts, the colors will be pulled down through the fabric & the colors will mix and blend.  For example, if you use yellow and blue together, you will get greens. Part of the fun is that colors will split up a bit into their component colors, giving you neat effects. You can use this to your advantage when choosing your colors.

Once everything is sprinkled to your liking, cover the tub with plastic and let the melting progress. Putting the tubs in a warm place can speed things up. Let it all sit this way for 24 hours.

The liquid in the bottom of the tub may look like a big pool of black or brown colors. But, the items that were elevated will be colored.

Take your fabric to the sink and rinse items in COLD running water. Rinse until the water is running mostly clear.

Finally, toss fabric in the wash with HOT water and Professional Textile Detergent.