I was wondering if any of you when dyeing your fleece fabric for puppets. Do you use it just one time or do any of you recycle your dye by storing in glass gallon jars. Can it be reused or does it lose it's dye strength.

Curious minds want to know?

Billy d.

I have the same question Billy.  I personally have used a dye bath more than once.  I have a couple sitting around as I type.  I've reused a dye bath within a week or two after first making it and it turned out OK.  I may have added extra dye to get the same depth of colour. (The bath was left in the giant plastic tub that I did the soaking in.)  I reused the same dye bath way later (maybe a month) and got bad results because some of the dye particles had settled in the corners of the tub as sediment and ended up leaving dye "dirt" on my fabric which I hastily rinsed out so as not to destroy the fabric.

Before I reuse a bath again, I plan to examine the dye bath more closely for sediment and then test it on a small swatch before using on a large piece of fabric.

I don't......if you go this route you would need to reheat the water/dye mixture.....to me this takes more work than just filling the container with hot tap water and adding dye.  I usually do large bins so I would need a lot of jars to empty it out. 

Daryl H

If you want to reuse it using the liqid dye.I have never reused dye for anything.I agree with Stiqman.More trouble than it is worth!
Brenda

never tried reusing it I imagine its a bit lighter but not to much

I've never tried dyeing fleece fabric but wanted to dye some white long haired fur fabric.  Anyone tried this?

Helen

Helen,

Try out the dye on a small swatch of fur fabric... Some furs won't take the dye or take it very weakly (light color).
I'd also suggest hanging up the fur to air dry... Some times the heat of a dryer will do strange things to fur fabric!

Twisted

Twisted Puppets has said it, it won't dye at all (or very little).  Also if you put the fur in hot water it crinkles the fur (like cookie monster fur look) and it will ruin the fur unless that is the look you are wanting. 

However like Twisted Puppet said you can try a small piece and see the outcome.

Daryl H

This is a good time to mention the " Dye Forum " I have'nt been there in a while but they have some great dye specialist there. Paula Burch is about the best on answering your questions about any type dyes.
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/howtodye.shtml

Billy D.

thanks all!  I'll try a piece and see what happens and let you know.

Helen