Ageing Liquids
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Tips & Techniques
Dyeing fabric in a bucket
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Dilute the liquid with 1 of liquid to 3 or more of water (3 times as much water as liquid). The more water added to the dye the fainter the shade gets. With some fabrics, the colour will fade a few days after dyeing, so dye a darker shade. Always test dye a spare piece of fabric before starting on the real thing and leave it for a few days to dry, just to check that the colour and shade. Different fabrics behave differently, so testing is essentail.
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Wet fabrics will take a long time dry, especially during the winter. If you have used a lot of water, try and hang the fabric in a heated place to dry.
Spraying with a hand held spray gun
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Pour into the spray gun pot straight from the tin. Shake the tin first.
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If a lighter shade is needed, then dilute with water. The colour may fade after a few days, so dye a slightly darker shade.
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To prevent the dye from running, use sparingly in several light coats rather than one heavy coat. Over application will cause dye to run, which can be quite a nice effect.
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Best test spray first to check the effect is right before final spraying.
Applying with a cloth
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Make individual stain marks simply by adding a little dye onto a cloth straight from the tin, and then and rub directly on.
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For a more diluted stain, decant a little dye into a separate container or pot, and then add water. Best use a pot with a lid so that the mixture does not evaporate. Rub on with a with a cloth.
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To smudge the stain, add more water directly to the stain while it is still wet.
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Another trick is to wet the fabric before applying the undiluted or diluted liquid, this creates very interesting stains as the liquid runs.
Applying with a brush
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Decant into a separate pot and apply with a brush.
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Best use a pot with a lid to prevent evaporation.
General points
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Wear washing up gloves to protect your fingers.
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To get a more concentrated colour let some of the liquid evaporate.
