Snow Dyeing: Technique #2

Now for the second technique. For this one I used less dye. I love the intense colors I got but wanted to see what they would look like using less dye which equals less cost. If you prepared your fabric as I did in this post, you are ready to move on to this new technique.

For this process, I piled the snow on top of the material in the container. Instead of mixing the dye with the snow, I sprinkled the dry dye onto the snow. Here is one where I sprinkled Forest Green and Golden Yellow. I sprinkled 1/2 teaspoon per color onto the snow. The fabric is again left to sit, covered 24 hours. Follow the procedures for rinsing in the last post HERE.

Forest Green and Golden Yellow
Forest Green and Golden Yellow

For that fabric and one other, I folded and rubber banded the material before placing it in the container. Notice I am wearing gloves.

Folding soda ash soaked fabric
Folding soda ash soaked fabric

I just folded the fabric back and forth and then secured with rubber bands.

Folded and ready to go into container
Folded and ready to go into container

These next two photos are the finished pieces that were folded and secured with the rubber bands. Please excuse the blue painter tape I used to secure to the door.

Forest Green and Golden Yellow folded piece
Forest Green and Golden Yellow folded piece
Cobalt Blue and Golden Yellow Tied Piece
Cobalt Blue and Golden Yellow folded piece

This yellow one I grabbed in the center and twirled the fabric around before placing in the container.

Golden Yellow
Golden Yellow

Now to my 1/2 yard each of canvas. For the first one I sprinkled 1/2 teaspoon each of three different dyes. I just scrunched the fabric into the container – no folding or tying.

Golden Yellow, Cobalt Blue and Forest Green
Golden Yellow, Cobalt Blue and Forest Green

For this next one, I sprinkled 1/2 teaspoon each of Forest Green and Raspberry, and just a tad of Golden Yellow.

Forest Green, Raspberry and Golden Yellow

The canvas material was much brighter but I also was using the same amount of dye for this half yard that I did for the yard of muslin.

I found that this process was much cleaner than the first one. There was no slopping of the snow all over the laundry room. I love all of the surprises. My only regret is that I didn’t have larger pieces of canvas!

I’m not done with this technique yet. I’m sure I’ll be doing more before the snow ends. However, if you don’t have snow this can be done by making your own snow with a snow cone machine. I want to experiment also with ice and frozen fabric.

I hope you have enjoyed these snow tutorials. This is really fun and the results are just breathtaking and I’m just a novice. If you try these techniques, I’d love to see you material.