I don't use anything when I dye with fine results......I went and checked my two pieces of Antron Fleece that I recently did and noticed on one piece that it was not an even dye on the back it shows lighter spots but the front of it came out even.  I am not sure why that happened but the main thing is the front turned out even all over.  However this piece I had troubles dying it the right colour and tried the washing machine method which failed for me the first time.  But I managed to make things turn to my advantage in the end so I am not sure if that played a role because the second piece was even with dye on both sides.

Daryl H

So, you used the washing machine to dye, not a tub?

I think you should try short amount of fleece to dye

Miguel!

I tried the washing machine method described by Dr. Puppet I had more difficulty with getting the right colour for whatever reason.  I usually use large plastic containers to dye stuff and this work with no problems. 

I don't want to give the impression that the washing machine won't work....that day......it just wasn't working for me.  I will keep practicing this method I like that the clean up is a lot easier......once I figure out the method to work fool proof.

Daryl H

Keep practicing. And let us knows how was it!

Miguel!

I'm new to the forum and I too have experienced uneven coloring while dying antron fleece.  I tried dying over the stove with a low boiling water and wet antron fleece.  When I noticed the white discolorations, I just changed dye bath colors to make an darker colored puppet so as no to waste the fleece.  I order from Georgia Stage, the 12 oz antron fleece.  The discoloration has occurred during 3 months (July-Sept 2008)

welcome here! that's first of all.

a few dyeing processes have passed since I posted my first message about problems with Antron and I must admit now I have less of them. I mean, sometimes it happens but not so often as previously. I don't use a hot bath, I use a tap water which is very warm, but not hot (I can even put my hand into it) - I know it's better for a lighter color than darker one, but I didn't need dark one so far, so there is no problem. I've noticed that a good solution for spots problem is, after immersion, to rapidly crumple fabric and keep it under the water for couple of secunds still ruffling. I suppose it's better than putting a flat Antron piece into the water due to the bulges that may occure because of the air that gets itself under the fleece (and may cause uneven dyeing).

this technique is perhaps obvious to more experienced puppeteers so don't laught at me please but I just experiment with everything by myself and this was a result.

Good to know tsu.  Thanks.  I think you are right about that.

I dye my Antron fleece in the washing machine and have never had a problem.  I dye 3 yards at a time.  I have to manually keep turning the wash cycle back to the start of the 14 min. cycle, but it's no big deal.  I keep it in the wash for at least 30 minutes before I let the cycle continue.  The dry RIT dye is mixed in a jar of hot water before adding to the full water in machine.  Then I add the soaked (wet) fleece into the washer.  I DO NOT wring out the fleece.  The packaging even tells you to wet the fabric.  If it wet (the material), then uneven soaking (dyeing) won't occur.  That's what happened in the case of the spotting.