Cross Stitch 101: Hand Dyeing Aida | Embroidery Tutorial

A quick little look at how to dye your own aida (or any fabric, really). The marble dye technique gives your aida a unique look, with lots of variation in colour.
► MadXStitcher embroidery kits and supplies: squareup.com/s...
Music Credits:
All other music provided by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsou...)

[@MadXStitcher]

Hey there! This video presents ideas and methods intended to help new and experienced stitchers find new methods of doing their craft. There is no right or wrong way to be creative or make art. If this works for you, I'm glad it helped! If you have questions, please ask! If you don't like this method, please move on. These comments are not a place to tell others what the "correct" way may or may not be.

[@WeakBambi]

I need help! I'm trying to figure out how to hand dye aida fabric differently. I'm wanting to go from a dark shade of purple to light purple and then blue. IN a linear fashion. Any tips?? Thank you

[@FoxLightstep]

What is the salt water ratio you use? Do you have measurements for each size of cloth?

[@shadowbroker4619]

I tie dye and always thought about trying this for my cross stitch fabric! I’m going to give it a shot! Thanks for the great tutorial.

[@annt.3151]

Your pink one is fabulous!

[@maharajette]

This is so thorough and cool, thank you! I can’t wait to try using the multiple-color method for sky and water backgrounds. :)

[@MalloryKennington]

This is amazing! I never imagined it would be this easy, especially considering the prices I find online. Thank you so much for posting! Your sound is good btw, very easy to understand even on my phone.

[@MadXStitcher]

Yeah, a lot of time the price is reflecting the cost of materials and the hourly rate that goes into it. Doing enough for a store is a huge time sink. But yeah, for one-offs on something like Aida or Monaco, it can definitely be cheaper to just make it yourself.

[@sherryblack7282]

Exactly, I started researching doing it myself, considering the prices are crazy. Great tutorial

[@usgribbles]

Loved this video ❤

[@matilynmauer]

Love the presentation and the video! I really needed the powdered dye instruction.

[@ShanaCali]

Oh my!!! What an amazing tutorial!!! I'm so pleased I found you, looking forward to seeing many more of your videos.

[@sunshine69kim]

You did an ammmmazing job explaining this technique!! Thank you so much Milesy 😃

[@MadXStitcher]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SHatcher33]

This was fantastic! I’m about to try my hand at dying my own fabric, mostly because I need a colored fabric and I waited too long to order it. Thanks so much for this great tutorial - can’t wait to do it.

[@MadXStitcher]

It's so easy! I'll probably be doing a few more similar tutorials on other methods in in the future, but the method I showed in this video is the one I use most often.

[@Cele573]

Love your hair and I love your tutorials! Thank you so much for providing clear instructions that are also enjoyable to watch. :)

[@amandatatum4199]

Thank you! Your fabric is beautiful!

[@sherryblack7282]

Everything was explained very clearly, thank you. Now a subscriber

[@MadXStitcher]

I'm glad it's helpful!

[@kathleenpotter9332]

Excellent video! Love the Guardians poster!

[@MadXStitcher]

haha thanks!

[@renabrown851]

l have always wanted to try dying fabric. The second piece was my favorite. Thanks for sharing

[@MadXStitcher]

You should! It's really easy!

[@notalkjustnails6101]

Looks fun! Definitely gonna try this at some point!

[@mariwhitmer5377]

Great video! I have been struggling with dyeing my fabric as I don't have an oven, everything I've watched required an oven. Microwave I can do. I can't wait to try this on some of my linen. Thanks.

[@MadXStitcher]

The oven? I mean, I can see the reasoning, but how odd. Then again, I guess a microwave is equally odd.

[@strummerdundee]

Excellent video! I've been wanting some colored fabric for cross-stitching for a while, so I'll try this!

[@MizzRowe]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. Love the fabrics.

[@elenaallen5946]

Thank you for the tutorial ♥️✨

[@PRMoody78]

Awesome! I looks easy enough when you do it:) I would like to try it sometime though!

[@stitchingwithasmile677]

Thank you - great tutorial!

[@jenny154]

Wow this looks so cool!!

[@MadXStitcher]

Thanks!

[@grandmaluvs2dp]

Awesome thank you so much for the tutorial!!!

[@pookariah18]

So awesome! I know what I’m doing today!

[@heysuzzz]

Great tutorial, thank you!!

[@sparkyboom3434]

Ok I know this video is old but I am taking a chance lol I was wondering how much of the powdered dye you put in the bowl? I want to try this. Thank you so much for this video!

[@lesliechain7703]

That was great!

[@elviraalamillo2015]

Awesome thanks for sharing.

[@saharavilla9989]

Great job.

[@gracepatane9384]

Great information!!

[@LilyDilly2024]

can I dye a colored aida? I want to add some colors on top of an orange aida.

[@rachelgibson7107]

This was super helpful! Is there a way to avoid microwave splatter? I’m hoping to be able to just use the microwave in the kitchen PS love all the marvel stuff

[@MadXStitcher]

You can cover it with plastic wrap, but be careful that it doesn't burst. Otherwise, using the stovetop method will get the same effect. Just go to the thrift store and get a couple of small pots.

[@Simunaya]

A good tutorial.

[@sharonurban6390]

How much salt do you use ?

[@hmayonay]

Thank you! I tried painting some aida, and i didn't like how it turned out. I don't have a microwave so I'll be trying the other method. :)

[@MadXStitcher]

Yeahhhh, painting it really doesn't work very well. I have a few friends who have tried it, and it always ends with constantly complaining about how much the fabric sucks.

[@TroyHallBear]

what do you think about using a "sprayer" ( the plastic pump jugs kind ) to splotch light gray / black on charcoal gray dyed canvas drop cloth ( cotton ). The idea is SLIGHT area's of color shift so that its not 100% perfectly charcoal gray. This would be for a photography background. It's 12' x 15' btw. Very similar to your black but only SLIGHT variations.

[@MadXStitcher]

I've done this before, and it works very well for subtle colours and gradients. I've found the best way to heat-set fabric that's been sprayed is with an iron you don't care about ruining. Because it will ruin the iron a bit.

[@rosesobochan3965]

loved your video thank you. Could you please tell me how much salt that you added to that size of bowl with water thank you

[@MadXStitcher]

Sorry I missed this comment. I was on an extended break last year and didn't see everything that came in. I add enough salt to make the water cloudy. There's no exact ratio I use, but the bottle says to use 1cup of salt per pound of fabric.

[@lorell1988]

thank you so much for this I'm about to try it now.... does the dye stain the microwave I know you showed us yours at the end but I only have one microwave so I'm hoping it will at least wash out lol

[@MadXStitcher]

I haven't noticed any permanent stains, but I recommend using a junker because you'll never get it completely clean if you do this regularly.

[@loricagney6708]

I want to do a "blood splattered" look on aida. What would you suggest?

[@MadXStitcher]

Squirt bottle! I'm actually going to be filming a video on something like this shortly. It's just taking a bit of time to put together with my craft room in flux.

[@drownedinnostalgia3433]

can I dye my white threads to other colors with marker or natural dyes like turmeric since I can't spend too much money on threads that I won't use that much?

[@MadXStitcher]

This method will work with most dyes. If you’re going to use something like marker, which is a pigment (not a dye), you’ll have to look up info elsewhere on how to do it with your specific brand. The method will change wildly depending on whether your marker is water or alcohol based. A water-based marker will not be colourfast, so you’d have to take extra care with whatever you dye because it will likely wash out.

[@drownedinnostalgia3433]

MadXStitcher ok thank you very much :)

[@Brent630real]

Hi, is there other way instead of putting it on a microwave???

[@MadXStitcher]

Most dyes need a decent amount of heat to set the colour. You can also use a pot and put it on the stove, but make sure it's a pot that food will never got into again. Even if the dye's non-toxic, you'll never get the pot clean, and you don't really want to be eating it.

[@Zannabeme]

how long do you microwave your fabric?

[@MadXStitcher]

It depends on how big the dye bath is, and how much fabric you're using. Typically, until it starts to boil is a good benchmark. The longer you go, the more vibrant your colour will be, so if you want to make sure it doesn't boil dry, you can cover it in cling film and boil the hell out of it. As long as the fabric doesn't get dry you're good.

[@ldg92553]

Sea salt?

[@MadXStitcher]

Nope, just regular old table salt.

[@cheryl8280]

Thank you. This was a very informative video, however I noticed that most of these commenters are approximately 4 - 11 months old and have very relevant questions about this process. I also have a few question, but it doesn't look as though you respond. So, with that said, I'll move on to a site where I can get my questions answered. Again, thank you.

[@MadXStitcher]

I wasn't responding to comments during this period because my grandmother was in hospice and I was the primary caregiver. If you're going to comment that you have a question, don't be so entitled about it next time.