How To Mix A Soda Ash Solution and Liquid Dye for Tie Dyeing

In this video I show some of the tools I use to mix soda ash and liquid dye. I also show and explain how I mix my soda ash solution that I use to soak my shirts before I dye them. Additionally, I show my method for mixing liquid dye for tie dyeing.
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Links:
Dye Suppliers:
Dharma Trading Company Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes:
www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dh...
Custom Colours:
customcoloursinc.storenvy.com/
Grateful Dyes:
www.grateful-dyes.com/dyes/
Prochemical and Dye:
prochemicalanddye.net/pro-mx-...
How To Center A Shirt: • How To Center A T-shir...
Other tools and items that I use when tie dyeing:
Soda Ash: www.dharmatrading.com/chemica...
Urea: www.dharmatrading.com/chemica...
Out White Brite Laundry Whitener: amzn.to/3ix1UWF
Jacquard deColourant: amzn.to/33ILgxv
Milk Frother: amzn.to/32W2Mg5
Toastmaster Immersion Blender: amzn.to/3lQFmRU
Panda Spin Dryer: amzn.to/3hDwAoc
Silicone Cake Molds: amzn.to/2EnsaU2
Cake Collars: amzn.to/2Evcfmn
Wooden Clothespins: amzn.to/2ZEjq3c
Binder Clips: amzn.to/2RC7XwG
Artificial Deer Sinew: amzn.to/2EF28Lu
Stainless Steel Lab Spoons and Spatulas: amzn.to/2PWq7LK
Locking Tweezers: amzn.to/3BhFtx8
Kite String:
www.acehardware.com/departmen...
Needle Tip Bottles - 1 oz.: amzn.to/31xOFOJ
Needle Tip Bottles - 4 oz.: amzn.to/2FXVoJn
Squeeze Bottles (8-16 oz):
www.dharmatrading.com/tools/s...
Bottle Brushes: amzn.to/3c4AQe5
8” Locking Curved and Straight Hemostats: amzn.to/2QowKnk
10" and 12" Curved Locking Hemostats: amzn.to/3wbKAMH
Sodium Alginate: amzn.to/2EkHoZX
Lifetime 6’ Table: amzn.to/2EIohZU
Collapsible Leg shelf: amzn.to/2QJfCIX
Sterilite 41qt underbed storage box: amzn.to/3lGtUbN
ClosetMaid Wire Shelf Kit 3-feet X 12-inch: amzn.to/2EYdWcc
Sous Vide Wand: amzn.to/2SNdhS0
Rubbermaid 18 quart Container: amzn.to/2TJ9vct
Vinyl Guttering: www.lowes.com/pd/Amerimax-Con...
Hi guys!
Above are links for some of the tools and products that were shown or referred to in the video, along with some of the other tools I often use. I am an Amazon affiliate and some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase or click through these links, I earn from qualifying purchases. It is one of the ways to support me and the free content that I offer. I sure appreciate you all, and thank you for watching!
#funendeavors #tiedye #tiedyetutorial #dyemixing #sodaash #funendeavorstiedye #funendeavorstiedyelab
Music: Artlist

[@KaleidoscopeKaty]

I just got into tie dying and your videos have been a blessing!! Thanks so much for posting these, they’re so helpful 😊

[@FunEndeavors]

That's great - I hope you have fun tie dyeing! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos - thank you so much for watching!

[@SuperNette101]

Excellent! Thorough, clear and very organized. Thank you!

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you so much! 🙂

[@suziebell6206]

Hey Angie I wanted to share with you. First I am so glad you have these videos to refer to if you need them. I have short term memory loss so I need them. Anyways, when I mix dyes or even using them on my project, I use those puppy pads. Ya get like 50 of them for under ten bucks. They keep powder from getting all over the place and the dye. Just keeps things a little cleaner.

[@FunEndeavors]

That's a great idea - thanks for sharing!!

[@suziebell6206]

@@FunEndeavors Happy to help and you are welcome. I've always had those around they are very handy. Getting organized today and make some dye.

[@FunEndeavors]

@@suziebell6206 Enjoy your day and have fun tie dyeing! 🙂

[@218maryland]

Thank you, this video is perfect. Had to sift through 5 other videos before I came across your wonderful video

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you so much - I'm glad you like it!

[@edwardsjuli21]

So helpful! Thanks Angie!

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you - I'm glad you liked it!

[@bonniesobel1]

Angie, you are such a good teacher! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of tye-dye with us!! ✌❤

[@FunEndeavors]

You are too kind - thank you so much!

[@finneganedwin8991]

You all probably dont care at all but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid forgot the login password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me!

[@tysondaxton3911]

@Finnegan Edwin instablaster :)

[@finneganedwin8991]

@Tyson Daxton thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@finneganedwin8991]

@Tyson Daxton it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my ass !

[@sop-ubi7578]

I really like your videos! I like how you describe every detail on your tutorial, and your ideas to create those variations. Great job Angie! :D

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you so much - I'm glad you are enjoying them!

[@mariacooseelal9534]

Angie you are quite a great teacher...

[@janetrountree5989]

Thank you for all the great information!

[@FunEndeavors]

You are welcome - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@taragayle24]

You're amazing. I feel very confident in working with my new tie dye adventures! I've been using the regular tulip dye. Fun for just recreational use but I run a tshirt business and I'm wanting to add tiedye to my inventory! So pumped about it!

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you! Tie dye will be a great addition to your T-shirt business.

[@taragayle24]

A couple questions. Does soda ash be reused after soaking shirts. Can urea be premixed and poured into the dye as needed? And how quickly does dharma dye need to be used after being mixed?

[@FunEndeavors]

@@taragayle24 Yes, you can reuse the soda ash. I have a Panda spin dryer that has a spout on the front where the soda ash water comes out as it is spun out of the shirts. I catch the soda ash that is spun out in a container and pour it back into my soda ash bucket and reuse it. You can reuse it until it goes bad - you'll know when that happens because it gets a funky smell. It takes quite a while for that to happen though. I used to premix Urea water and use it when I mixed dye. I would either mix too much or not enough though so I just started adding it to each dye color when I mixed it. How long the dye lasts depends on a couple things: the specific color mixed and the temperature the dye is kept at. If the dye is a darker color like black - I try to use the dye within a day or two. After that, it won't be as intense and dark of a black as when it is first mixed. It will be more faded. I've found other colors like red fade quicker too. Also, if the dye is kept in a warm room it will go bad faster. My dyes are kept in a temperature controlled room so I don't refrigerate mine. I've read where other tie dyers will put the dye in the refrigerator to try to keep it longer. I'm not sure how much longer they last though if refrigerated. I will experiment with using older dyes on shirts for fun. Sometimes if the dye is too old it will look normal going on the shirt, but then most of the color will wash out when it is rinsed. I personally don't trust dye that is over about a week old. A useful tip that didn't make it in this video is using a milk frother to mix dye. I'm not a coffee drinker and so I never would have thought to use a frother. However, someone suggested I try it and so I purchased one. It is so handy for mixing smaller amounts of dye (2 cups or less). It is battery operated and so I keep it on my mixing area and rinse it in between colors. It is great for the tough to mix colors like fuchsia and yellow. Here is a link to the frother I purchased if you aren't familiar with them either. amzn.to/32W2Mg5

[@taragayle24]

Thank you so much!!! I truly appreciate your tips! I will def be getting one of those!

[@FunEndeavors]

@@taragayle24 you are welcome!

[@naidasquilting279]

Thank you for the great info.

[@FunEndeavors]

You're welcome, I'm glad it was helpful! 🙂

[@JAMDESIGNS]

Excellent tutorial, thank you!

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@wasanawijewardana4309]

Your a very good teacher thank you sharing ur valuable knowledge

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you so much - I'm glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@danielletrevino615]

Thank you for this!!

[@FunEndeavors]

You're so welcome!

[@kazskully8501]

Awesome video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🌈✌🏻☮️💜

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you so much!!! 🙂

[@asempamathew4488]

Great job

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you!

[@mandayager4835]

Thank you so much for all you have taught me with you AMAZING Chanel! What do you think about sprinkling urea on top or below the ice? I prefer to ice dye but it is hot and dry here too....I would love to get your thoughts on this?

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you - I'm so glad you are enjoying the videos! I haven't ever tried sprinkling Urea over or under ice when ice dyeing. I live in the Southern part of the US where it gets really hot during the summer and so far I haven't ever had an issue with my ice dyed shirts drying out. I tried to research and see whether anyone else had tried it, but I can't seem to find any information.

[@AdamRyan747]

Done ✅ nice content

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you!

[@TheWVbear]

Great tutorial! It was easy to understand. I always have difficulty figuring the dye amounts for Pro Chem dyes 😕 Also I recommend a Calculi Strainer to help with stubborn clumps of dye to help break them up. Thanks for posting, this will save you a lot of time explaining stuff to folk 🙂

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you! Great tip - I had to look up what kind of strainer that was. I use a small handheld mesh strainer sometimes when ice dyeing, but I'd never heard of the kind that you mentioned.

[@TheWVbear]

@@FunEndeavors Oh, I forgot to mention that I found an item that with 5 mins of work becomes a good budget sinew puller. I use one for my sinew and also for my kite string. If you want I can post a link.

[@FunEndeavors]

@@TheWVbear awesome - I would love to see it.

[@TheWVbear]

@@FunEndeavors www.amazon.com/WoodStoreGifts-Wooden-Rattle-With-Rings/dp/B07CB9NN4T/ref=sxin_9?ascsubtag=amzn1.osa.8739cc86-df0a-4634-8c81-e7fd05c74abc.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&creativeASIN=B07CB9NN4T&crid=AM6GW2MUGVXW&cv_ct_cx=wood+baby+rattle&cv_ct_id=amzn1.osa.8739cc86-df0a-4634-8c81-e7fd05c74abc.ATVPDKIKX0DER.en_US&cv_ct_pg=search&cv_ct_wn=osp-single-source&dchild=1&keywords=wood+baby+rattle&linkCode=oas&pd_rd_i=B07CB9NN4T&pd_rd_r=b6d46cf3-c5fc-4474-9531-202cb25c85a5&pd_rd_w=wre1x&pd_rd_wg=3cN2x&pf_rd_p=7f9a42bd-c050-43e5-9e70-deb13f53640d&pf_rd_r=BJSJS2S4JSVN803Z1T30&qid=1597965360&sprefix=wood+baby+r%2Caps%2C-1&sr=1-3-72d6bf18-a4db-4490-a794-9cd9552ac58d&tag=hotbike_osp-20

[@TheWVbear]

Sorry for the long link, I didn't know what to do 😳 these run between 5-6 inches long and the ends are 1.25-1.50 inches thick. They are hardwood.You can also find them on etsy. I hope this helps folk who are on a budget who want one.

[@melaniecitrin3383]

Great video, thank you. I'm just learning about fibre reactive dyes. Interesting that you don't use salt... do you think its optional?

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you! Some tie dyers use salt. However, I don't. Paula Burch has a great website with lots of information about tie dyeing. Here's a link to what she has to say about using salt. www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/salt.shtml

[@muhsifbaby]

Thank you

[@FunEndeavors]

I'm glad you liked it! 🙂

[@robindudleyhowes]

You are a great teacher, thank you for breaking down the mix. I have a question: I want to dye silk velvet and from what I've read on Dharmas site I can use the fiber reactive dye. Have you ever dyed silk velvet and if so what dye do you use? thanks in advance. I'm off to check out your other videos and website!

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm sorry, but I haven't ever dyed silk velvet. I know Dharma has some information available: www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/silk-rayon-velvet.html Paula Burch's website also has a lot of information about different kinds of dyes and techniques. I'm not sure if she has anything specifically about silk velvet, but here is a link to her website if you would like to check: www.pburch.net

[@robindudleyhowes]

@@FunEndeavors thank you for taking the time to back to me I appreciate it💜

[@FunEndeavors]

@@robindudleyhowes You are welcome - I'm sorry I couldn't give you more information.

[@marywilliams6823]

Thank you so much for this video helps a lot. Question once you mix your dyes how long are they good for? And how long can you store the soda ash mixture?

[@FunEndeavors]

Great, I'm glad it was helpful. A soda ash solution will last a long time. I keep mine in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and it stays good for months. You'll know when it goes bad, it gets a pretty funky smell. In general, dyes will stay good for a couple of weeks if you keep them in a cool space. Some colors will start to fade before that time though. I think the colors that require more dye to mix like black are the ones that go bad faster. I personally mix my black dye right before I use it and then try to use any leftover dye within a couple of days. Older dye will normally still work, but it won't be as vibrant. I've done a few videos where I used older dye and I've only had a couple of colors not show up at all. They go on the shirt like normal, but when I rinse the shirt the dye rinses out too or just fades so much it looks like it rinsed out.

[@GgMagical]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you for watching!

[@monicaniehaus3872]

Thanks for you videos. I was wondering with a 2oz jar of dye how many oz's of liquid dye do you get approximately.

[@FunEndeavors]

You're welcome. That's a tough question - It really depends on the color. For example, some of Dharma Trading Company's colors require 2 teaspoons, 4 teaspoons, or 8 teaspoons of dye to mix 1 cup of liquid dye. Also, since the colors are sold by weight - some colors are heavier and have less in the jar (so they have fewer teaspoons) by comparison to other colors. Two ounces of dye makes at least 16-24 ounces of liquid dye. Most of the time much much more. According to Dharma's website, 1 cup of liquid dye (8 ounces) will dye 2 adult t-shirts. If you are just starting out, I would order 2 ounce containers until you see what colors you like the best. I order 2 ounce containers of most colors. If it is a color that I love and one that I use all the time I order larger quantities. I think you will be pleasantly surprised how long a 2 ounce container of most colors will last.

[@devpac7861]

Really love your videos Angie! Do you have any videos on how to really have bold colors? I've been at this tie die hobby for a few months now, but I can't seem to really get my colors to pop the first try. They look cool after the wash and while they're hanging but look a bit faded once the shirts are dried. Would really appreciate any tips.

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you - I'm glad you are enjoying the videos! I don't have any videos specifically addressing that issue. However, if you are using Procion Fiber Reactive Dyes (the kind that I use) and still not getting bold colors it could be several factors: 1. Are you soaking your shirts in a soda ash solution? This is a necessary component to make the dyes bond properly with the fabric. 2. Are you mixing your dyes strong enough? As you've seen in this video, I don't try to skimp on dye. I know some tie dyers don't use the recommended amount of dye to achieve the darker colors. 3. Is your dye old? The older the dye - the more faded it gets. 4. Did you add soda ash to your dye? I don't do this, but some tie dyers do. When you add the soda ash to the dye it will cause the dye to begin reacting and therefore the dye will only be good for a few hours before degrading. 5. Are you mixing your dyes with distilled or tap water? As I mentioned in the video, I have hard water and so I use distilled water instead of my tap water. I have used my tap water before and it didn't make a huge difference to switch to distilled, but depending on how hard your water is - it might be a factor. 6. What is the temperature in the place where you are processing your shirts? The shirts must be in an environment that is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat is a component that is often overlooked. 7. How long are you processing your shirts? I usually leave mine for at least 24 hours. 8. Are your shirts 100% cotton? The lower the cotton content, the more faded the shirts will be. 9. Are you prewashing your shirts before you begin the dyeing process? If a shirt has anything on it from the manufacturing process, it can affect the way that it will dye. Hopefully one of the items listed above will help.

[@matthewnwoba6562]

@@FunEndeavors what if I use hot water

[@gaylemae]

Can you use hot water to mix the colors? I’m ready to try shibori. I’ve been checking people’s trash and got racks, buckets, a plastic pipe to wrap the shirt around. Saves them from the landfill and all free!

[@FunEndeavors]

I use distilled water and so it is always room temperature when I use it. I looked it up though on Dharma's site and Dharma Trading Company's instructions say not to use hot water, but to use lukewarm water (105 degrees). That's awesome that you've found items to use that were just getting thrown away. I love the shibori pipe technique. I've done it several times and it's always a surprise what the outcome will be. I've used too much dye before and the shirt was almost a solid color, too little dye and the inside was had quite a bit of white. It's a bit tough because since the shirt is wrapped around a piece of PVC pipe it's hard to tell if it's well saturated, too saturated, or just perfect. It doesn't help that I use a different size shirt each time - ha! I would start wrapping your shirt around the pipe on the area that you don't mind being white if your dye doesn't go all the way through. I personally like the top or neck of my shirt to have dye for sure so I start wrapping the shirt around the pipe at the hem or bottom. That way if any part of the shirt ends up totally white it will be the bottom. Have fun and let me know how it turns out!

[@Lifeandliving247]

Nice one, thank you. But please are we using warm water to mix the soda ash or cold water? And are we dying the cotton when it's dry or wet?

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you! I prefer to use warm water to mix the soda ash. I think it helps to get it dissolved a little faster. You can dye your items when they are damp or dry. I prefer to dye thicker folds like mandalas and geodes when they are dry because I get better color saturation.

[@supunudayanga3954]

Thank you for this fantastic video and I have a question. Why clothes are soaked in soda ash solution ?

[@FunEndeavors]

The soda ash solution raises the pH to allow the Procion Fiber Reactive dye that I use to bond properly with the fabric. Without the soda ash soak, almost all of the dye would just wash out of the shirt.

[@lindsayhuff8813]

You can make your own soda ash. Saves a lot of money. Boil baking soda and tada!!!!! Soda ash!

[@MultiRocketRoy]

Hi. Pretty much a newbie in tye dying. But can i ask you, is it okay to mix the dye with hot water to dissolve it better. Bc sometimes the dye is a bit clumpy. Thanks

[@FunEndeavors]

Hi! It's better to use a room temperature temperature water rather than very hot water. The Dharma Trading Company site suggests lukewarm water (105 degrees). You are right - some colors are more difficult to dissolve than others. Yellow seems to float on the surface and fuchsia is tough to get fully dissolved where it won't freckle. Either an immersion blender or a milk frother works really well to help get them mixed. A viewer suggested trying a milk frother and so I purchased one and it works great for mixing smaller amounts of dye and it is super simple to clean. Here is the one I purchased: amzn.to/32W2Mg5

[@zlatoslava_s]

Hi, thanks for your tutorials! Very clear and still interesting :) I have question, how long is the mixed dye good? I have read that you can use it only few hours after it was mixed with water, is it true?

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you! I'm glad you found the video helpful. The dye should be good for a week or so if it is kept in a cool place. After that time, it will still be usable but it might end up losing some of vibrancy. Black is the only dye that I've found that gets very noticeably less intense the longer it is mixed. I usually try to mix only the amount of black dye that I need for the shirts that I have tied and ready to dye. I've experimented with dye that was several weeks old and I was very surprised by how vibrant it ended up looking. Some people add soda ash into their dye, that is the dye that must be used within a few hours. Once the soda ash and dye are combined with water in a bottle, they begin to react with each other like they do on the shirt.

[@matthewnwoba6562]

@@FunEndeavors Then the soda ash that you mixed, how can that be used

[@FunEndeavors]

@@matthewnwoba6562 The soda ash raises the pH and allows the dye to properly bond with the fabric.

[@matthewnwoba6562]

@@FunEndeavors okay Thanks a lot

[@memawg5283]

Purchased sodium alginate along with dyes. Catalog said it is used for paint/dyeing. What application do you use it for?

[@FunEndeavors]

I usually use sodium alginate when I want to thicken the liquid dye. I personally only use thickened dye for super precise dyeing or for painting with dye.

[@13DemonWolf]

Question? When you soak the shirts in the soda ash, after 20-30 mins, do you take them out and let them air dry and then tie dye or do you tie dye right after you ring them out? Thanks

[@FunEndeavors]

I wring them out until they are barely damp and then I tie them. Since I usually tie a bunch of shirts at the same time, and so most of the time the shirts are dry before I apply the dye. You can apply the dye to a damp shirt though. However, if it is a thick fold like a mandala or a geode, I usually wait until they are completely dry (usually several days). If they are too damp when I begin applying the dye the fibers will already be filled with soda ash solution and won't soak up the dye properly. I think of the fibers like a sponge that is already filled full of liquid when it is too damp. A sponge can't soak up anymore liquid once it is already full. However, if the shirt is dry - it's like a dry sponge that quickly soaks up the dye. If you've ever seen a thick fold like a mandala or a geode that has large white streaks in the middle, sometimes that happens when the shirt was too damp when the dye was applied. Thinner folds like spirals though don't have that issue and you can apply the dye when the shirt is damp.

[@topintown6693]

Hi there, can I please use Costic soda in place of urea? And why do some people add salt to their mixture

[@FunEndeavors]

Soda Ash or Sodium Carbonate is needed to help raise the pH so that the dye reacts properly with the fabric. Soda ash is safer to use than Caustic soda for this purpose. Caustic soda or lye is Sodium Hydroxide is a totally different product than Urea. Urea is added to tie dye because it is a humectant that helps keep the fabric from drying out during the processing period. It also helps to get the dye into solution. Salt is not necessary in tie dyeing. Salt is more commonly used in vat dyeing or acid dyeing.

[@vmt151]

Can you pre mix dyes for future projects or do you mix and use right away? Like do they have a shelf life after mixed?

[@FunEndeavors]

I don't usually mix dyes until I am ready to use them. They are good for about 2 weeks if they are kept somewhere cool though. So, I normally plan my shirts out and mix only the colors that I plan to use in the next couple of days. However, some colors lose their vibrancy before that time. Black will start to fade pretty quickly. I normally mix a new batch of black each time before I use it if I want a really dark black. Older black will start to be more of a gray color.

[@vmt151]

@@FunEndeavors Thank you so much for the awesome advice. I will keep all that info in mind. 😃

[@FunEndeavors]

@@vmt151 You're welcome!

[@sheilanies9223]

I use Acrylic paint mix what ever color I want is it okay to use soda ash or can I do with out it I do the water alcohol doesn't mix good . I have been bleaching too my jeans and tops .

[@FunEndeavors]

I'm not familiar with using acrylic paint for tie dyeing. The soda ash is used specifically for the Procion Fiber Reactive dyes that I use to help the dye bond properly with the fabric.

[@sheilanies9223]

@@FunEndeavors thank you . The reason i was wondering i know that Tulip tie dye has it in it .

[@FunEndeavors]

@@sheilanies9223 Yes, it does. Tulip dye is a fiber reactive dye and so it needs the soda ash to bond the dye to the fabric too.

[@stan22786]

Is urea have to be used or can it be skipped? I'm having a really hard time finding urea around washington state.

[@FunEndeavors]

It isn't a necessity. It is used to keep the shirt from drying out during the dyeing process and to help get the dye into solution. I live in a hot climate and so I have made a habit of using it. I know a lot of tie dyers though who don't use it and don't have any difficulties.

[@stan22786]

@@FunEndeavors thank you for replying about this. Because I keep seeing other videos talking about urea. I'm glad to know it's not necessary to be used. 😊 Thank you again

[@FunEndeavors]

@@stan22786 you are welcome!

[@lgjoh123]

Angie, how long does the liquid dye keep in the bottles? Thanks much :))

[@FunEndeavors]

Hi Lisa - it kind of depends. I've found that the darker the color is - the faster it fades. I try my best to only mix the amount of black dye that I'm going to use within a 24 hour time period. Most other colors will last at least a week or two though. I know some people keep them in the refrigerator to make them last longer, but I just keep them in a cool room. It's kind of difficult to tell if they aren't good anymore too. They will go on a shirt looking normal, but they can wash out of the shirt when it is rinsed if they are too old.

[@lgjoh123]

@@FunEndeavors thanks much!

[@FunEndeavors]

@@lgjoh123 you're welcome!

[@KeriWoods5150]

when would you thicken it?

[@FunEndeavors]

I would thicken it if I was making a shirt where I didn't want the dye to move very much. For example, if I want to leave quite a bit of white on a shirt and I don't want the dye to creep over into the white area, I will thicken the dye a little bit. I also thicken dye and paint with it.

[@kylemessicktiedyecollector5690]

How Did you need to do that all of your Mixing the dyes To-Do list! I know I still need work on it just like your video. ✌🥰🌈❤

[@FunEndeavors]

Hopefully this video helped answer your questions.

[@tiedyetutorialtv8410]

We're did you buy dharma fiber reactive dye

[@FunEndeavors]

From Dharma Trading Company. Here is the link: www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html?lnav=dyes.html If you would like any of the other items I mentioned, most of the links are below the video in the description.

[@sonaliudeshika2066]

Can i use hot water for dye mixing😊. Thank you!

[@FunEndeavors]

The Dharma Trading Company website suggests that you do not use hot water. They say that the dyes work best in lukewarm water (105 degrees Fahrenheit).

[@lgjoh123]

@@FunEndeavors mixing some now, and knew I could find the answer from you :))

[@FunEndeavors]

@@lgjoh123 that's great - have fun!

[@mar2ieu]

In the case where the vendor you buy your dye doesnt indicate any instructions on how to mix the dye, how are you going to measure it

[@FunEndeavors]

All of the vendors that I buy my dye from have instructions. If yours don't, I would contact them and ask for specific instructions on how to mix their product.

[@efhaidn1937]

Hello, can i ask you something? What is the difference between soda ash and water glass, and what if I replace urea for soda ash? I'm sorry if my English is not good.

[@FunEndeavors]

Hi! From what I've read, Water glass (Sodium Silicate) and Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate) can both be used to "fix" the dyes to the fabric by raising the pH. I have never used Water Glass though. I don't believe that the process for using Water Glass is the same as the process for Soda Ash. You would need to do some research on the instructions if you would like to use that product in place of Soda Ash. Urea has a totally different purpose than Soda Ash. Soda Ash as mentioned above raises the pH to allow the Procion Fiber Reactive Dye to properly bond with the fabric. Urea is used in liquid dye to help get the dye to dissolve properly in the water and to keep the fabric from drying out while the dyed shirt is processing.

[@efhaidn1937]

@@FunEndeavors oke thankyou very much :)

[@FunEndeavors]

@@efhaidn1937 you are welcome!

[@devbachu7072]

Can i used rhis soda ash first usung rit dye

[@FunEndeavors]

I do not use Rit Dye, I use fiber reactive dye. You would need to check the instructions for your dye to see if soda ash is necessary.

[@devbachu7072]

@@FunEndeavors thanjs

[@BigCityCBGs]

Is there a shelf life on the dye after you mix it?

[@FunEndeavors]

I normally store my dyes in a cool room, but I have heard of other tie dyers storing their dyes in the refrigerator to keep them longer. I'm not sure how well that works so I can only tell you that in my experience, some colors last longer than other ones. However, as a general rule - I don't use dye that is over 2 weeks old. I will sometimes mess around and experiment with older dye, but I don't trust the colors to be "accurate" after 2 weeks. I've found that darker colors like black fade the fastest. I normally mix up my black right before I need it and try to use it all within a couple days. It will still work and bond after a couple days, but it starts to fade and not be as dark. Most colors will just fade the older they get, but I've had a couple colors that were about 3+ weeks old that went on looking great, but fully washed out of the shirt when it was rinsed.

[@OCHOMANE]

Can you do a shirt that’s half plain, half dyed?

[@FunEndeavors]

I have posted videos for a couple like that. Here is a link to one of them. This shirt is a spiral that I only put dye on 1/2 of the shirt. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpCmmKKeer-beZY

[@assadnujjoo]

Can table salt be used instead of urea?

[@FunEndeavors]

No, the Urea is used to help keep the fabric from drying out during the processing.

[@jerricaaikopolleros5583]

Hello Angie. Good day! I have a question since I'm new in tie dyeing. Everytime I washed my shirt after 48hrs from dyeing it, the color is fading most especially the RED one. I have many trials and errors but still the RED one really fades even if I mixed the right measure of water and fiber reactived dyes. Hope you'll reply. Thank you and God Bless.

[@FunEndeavors]

Hmmm...that is an odd one. Red tends to be one of the colors that loses some of it's vibrancy as it gets old. Are you mixing your dye fresh, or is it a red dye that has been sitting for a few days? Also, are you processing your shirts in a place that is at least 70° Fahrenheit? If you are doing both of the things above, and if all of your other colors are turning out correctly, and you are mixing your dye with the proper concentration - I truly am stumped.

[@jerricaaikopolleros5583]

@@FunEndeavors I am mixing my dye fresh Angie and yes I did my dyeing on a warm place. I feel depressed because I want to start a small business on tie dye shirt but the outcome of my work is not really good. 😞

[@FunEndeavors]

@@jerricaaikopolleros5583 I am so sorry. What brand of dye are you using? Could it just be the particular brand of dye?

[@jerricaaikopolleros5583]

@@FunEndeavors I am using a fiber reactive dyes Angie. Now I am ordering a dye online that is called Dharma. I don't know if it's still have the same result since I haven't tried it yet. I don't know where am I lacking on this but the outcome is really not vibrant at all. If I could just send to you my work I will send it. 😞

[@FunEndeavors]

@@jerricaaikopolleros5583 I use Dharma Procion Fiber Reactive dyes and they are great. I've tried most of the reds that they offer. I usually use Fire Red and Chinese Red myself, but the other red colors are great too. Most of their red colors need to be mixed a bit more concentrated. They usually require 4 teaspoons of dye into 1 cup of water. I really hope that works for you.

[@kathyschoegjenelson3382]

Once you’ve mix your dyes with urea, how long will they last?

[@FunEndeavors]

It depends on the color. I've found some of the colors don't last as long as others once they are mixed. Urea doesn't affect how long the dye will last like adding soda ash to the dye, but over time all the dyes will start to lose their potency. I've found that black is one of the colors that goes bad the quickest. I usually try to use the black that I have mixed within 24-48 hours so that I get the darkest black possible. The majority of the other colors are usually OK for a week or so if they are stored in a cool place. In general darker colors and red tend to lighten the fastest. It's easy to be deceived by the older dye - older dye will go on and look totally normal, but it will be a lot lighter than normal when the item is washed. I will sometimes make clean-up shirts with older dye just to experiment with it and see what happens. I had an older green dye (it was probably about 3 weeks old) look great when it went on the shirt and it ended up completely washing out. On the other hand, I've had various other colors of dye that were 3 weeks old or more that turned out looking barely faded. It really just depends on the color and the temperature that the dye was stored at.

[@kathyschoegjenelson3382]

@@FunEndeavors thank you! I had read on one of the Facebook Tie Due groups that some dyers put mixed dyes in the fridge

[@FunEndeavors]

@@kathyschoegjenelson3382 Yes, some tie dyers do, and I'm sure that helps them last longer. However, I don't put mine in the refrigerator. I try my best to plan my projects and mix up close to the right amount of dye for the specific shirts that I am dyeing ( 🤣 that's my goal anyway). Truthfully, it never goes exactly like I planned - so, if I'm doing a lot of liquid dyed shirts I will add in an extra clean-up shirt to use a lot of the leftover colors on. Using colors that I hadn't pre-planned together on a shirt is always fun and I honestly have ended up with some of the coolest looking shirts that way.

[@idanlahayon1796]

where I can buy color in tei dyes

[@FunEndeavors]

I use Procion Fiber Reactive dye. There are several places where it can be purchased. I usually purchase mine from either Dharma Trading Company, Custom Colours, Grateful Dyes or Prochemical and Dye. Here are the links to the companies that I mentioned. Dharma Trading Company www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html?lnav=dyes.html Custom Colours: customcoloursinc.storenvy.com/ Grateful Dyes: www.grateful-dyes.com/dyes/ Prochemical and Dye: prochemicalanddye.net/pro-mx-fiber-reactive-dye.html

[@LizSchmitt520]

Where can I find a respirator to do my tiedye?? And is it necessary?? I was using Rit liquid dye but not Bally with the results, so ordered Urea, soda ash, and powdered dyed from Dharma Trading Co. to try, but don’t want to hurt my lungs!

[@LizSchmitt520]

Not happy*

[@FunEndeavors]

I have a background in Chemistry and I think that a mask is definitely necessary because the dye particles are so small. I use it whenever I am dealing with any chemicals. Since I am sensitive to soda ash, I wear it when mixing soda ash, dye, or doing reverse dyeing with Rit Color Remover or bleach. I purchased mine from Amazon. They come in various sizes and have a variety of filters. A particulate filter is what you want to look for - P100 filters.

[@LizSchmitt520]

Thank you so much. Your videos are great and I appreciate all of your help and information. Keep the videos coming, please! :)

[@FunEndeavors]

@@LizSchmitt520 you are welcome! I hope you were able to find a respirator that works for you.

[@wamburu]

Hi if I want dies from the company how do I go about it Esther Africa Kenya

[@FunEndeavors]

According to their website, Dharma Trading Company will ship to Kenya. Here is a link to the dye on their website: www.dharmatrading.com/dyes/dharma-fiber-reactive-procion-dyes.html?lnav=dyes.html Here is a link to the shipping policy that is on their website: www.dharmatrading.com/information/shipping.html?content=intl

[@trellesmuth]

How do you thicken the water? Or dye?

[@FunEndeavors]

I use sodium alginate. I purchase mine from Amazon, but you can also purchase it from Dharma Trading Company. Here's the one that I buy: amzn.to/2EkHoZX I highly recommend using an immersion blender to mix it. It is very difficult to get the sodium alginate thoroughly dissolved. The mixture will also continue to thicken the longer that it sits. Here is a link to the instructions from Dharma on how to use it: www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/sodium-alginate-thickener.html

[@trellesmuth]

Thank you

[@yousefyazdani3645]

what is urea for ? what urea doing in that mixing ?

[@FunEndeavors]

Urea is added to help dissolve the dye properly, and to help keep the item from drying out while it is processing. I live where it gets really hot during the summer, and so I usually use Urea in my liquid dye. I know of other tie dyers though don't ever use it and don't have any issues.

[@brettkreider18]

Have you ever used a milk throffer for mixing your dyes and urea in the bottle it’s super easy and quick. They sell them on amazing really cheap and they have a lifetime warranty! It really makes all the dye dissolve quickly! I highly recommend getting one. They’re super easy to clean as well, you just put them in a cup of hot water and turn it on.

[@FunEndeavors]

No, I've never tried that - I can see where it would work really well though. Thanks for the tip!

[@gaylemae]

You mean “frother”?

[@brettkreider18]

gaylemae okay? But did you understand what I meant? Sorry I’m really bad at spelling I’m special needs. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@FunEndeavors]

@@brettkreider18 I understood - I actually ordered one last night to try. I like the fact that it uses batteries instead of electricity so it will be easier to grab to take to the sink when I have just a couple colors to mix. Thank you for the tip!

[@brettkreider18]

Fun Endeavors really excited for you to try it out. Anything to make the process easier and clean up faster. It’s grate! It also nice that they’re tiny and can fit into small bottles, they’re tiny but pack a punch !

[@bigeasy2187]

dont you also have to mix soda ash in the dye before you use it?

[@FunEndeavors]

No, I soak my shirts in a soda ash solution before I apply the dye. If you add soda ash directly to the dye it will automatically activate the dye and the dye will need to be used immediately or within a few hours. However, if you leave the soda ash out of the dye when you mix it - it will stay good for a week or so. A lot of the tie dye kits that you can purchase make it easier for the user by adding the dye and soda ash together, but if possible it is better to soak your shirt in a soda ash solution and leave the soda ash out of the dye. I will occasionally add them together if I am repairing a small area on a shirt and don't want to have to soak the entire shirt. In that case though, I will immediately mix and use the dye.

[@leducksoniakouassi5065]

Thanks you very much . Can you peak french?

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you! No, unfortunately I don't speak French.

[@meganmcgowan5798]

The dye mixing process may not be really effective with certain shades. I had a recent issue with fuchsia, even after using a mixer and urea. I also kept it agitated while working, but still had a lot of "strawberry speckling"! Thankfully my customer was okay with it once I explained the situation, and the speckles mainly showed up in areas of a spiral that looked sort of like strawberry shapes... so we just called it a strawberry spiral, LOL! But it would have been bad if she wasn't so cool, and if the speckly areas didn't just happen to turn out looking just like real strawberries! My fuchsia wasn't one of the "Big 4" brands like the rest of my dyes... it was some "craft store" stuff (you probably can guess, it's the name of a flower!), and it may have been a bad or old batch. That same brand also washed out on me with another project, despite supposedly having soda ash in the dye powder. So after that fiasco, I began SA soaking EVERYTHING, even if using one-step dyes which claim that the SA soak isn't needed. It made a huge difference with those kits, really.

[@FunEndeavors]

Fuchsia is one of the tough colors to get mixed properly. I try to either use an immersion blender or a milk frother to mix my fuchsia dye. Normally, I will mix it - allow it to settle a bit and then come back and mix it again. I repeat this process if it looks like I still have any dye that isn't dissolved properly. I also turn my shirts inside out to dye them to help avoid some of the speckling from any undissolved dye. It may not keep all the speckles from showing up on the front of the shirt, but it definitely helps. Sometimes the speckling adds an interesting pattern to the shirt. I'm glad it worked out on your strawberry spiral. I'm not really familiar with all of the different tie dye kits that are available - I know that there are a lot on the market right now. I reviewed a kit from Hippie Crafters that they sent me, but other than that I don't really know what is available. I think it's probably wise to soda ash all your shirts though. Also, when the kit mixes the powdered soda ash in with the dye - the dye will begin reacting when you add the water and should be used within a couple hours to work properly. If your kit dye was mixed and allowed to sit for a little while before you put it on the shirt, that may be why the dye washed out of the shirt.

[@ehuddl59]

I heard someone putting salt in the dye. To help hold the color better. Have you ever done this?

[@FunEndeavors]

I haven't ever used salt in tie dyeing. The Procion MX Fiber Reactive dyes don't require salt. It is recommended for Vat dyeing with the Procion dyes though as well as some other dye types.

[@maryamsaidu9669]

Can i use sodium sulphide in place of urea

[@FunEndeavors]

I don't think so. Urea is used as a humectant to attract moisture so that the shirt won't dry out while it is processing.

[@maryamsaidu9669]

@@FunEndeavors i cant get urea in my area can i get a substitute please.. I got soda ash and the dyes already.

[@FunEndeavors]

@@maryamsaidu9669 Urea isn't totally necessary - you can probably leave it out. I know a lot of tie dyers who don't use it. I use it because I live in an area that gets really hot. If possible, you should try to make sure the shirt doesn't dry out before it's had enough time to process properly. When the shirt dries - the dye stops bonding. I put mine on a rack down inside of a plastic container and put the lid on the container. This allows the excess dye to drain away from the shirt and it helps to keep the shirt from drying out. If you don't have a plastic container that you can use - depending upon the design you can put the shirt inside of a plastic bag. The plastic bag method doesn't work though if you are trying to leave part of the shirt white because the excess dye that drains from the shirt will pool in the bottom of the bag. I usually double bag them just to make sure they don't leak all over.

[@siwasst4716]

Why used urea? Make colour brightnes? Please answer

[@FunEndeavors]

Urea will help keep your fabric damp longer so that the dye and fabric have enough time to bond and make the fabric vibrant. If the fabric dries out, the bonding with the dye stops.

[@siwasst4716]

@@FunEndeavors thank anggie 🤝

[@FunEndeavors]

@@siwasst4716 you're welcome!

[@myrazibang5645]

Hellooo, may i know what is urea actually? It looks like salt. And what will happen if not using it ya?

[@FunEndeavors]

Hi! The Urea that I purchase is a little round pellet that is a nitrogen product. I mix it in with liquid dye to help dissolve the dye and get it into solution. It is also a humectant. So, it will help retain or preserve moisture in the fabric so that the shirt won't dry out as quickly while it is processing. I live where it is very hot and humid during the summer. I mainly use the Urea to help keep the shirts from drying out. It is helpful for dissolving the dye too though. I know quite a few tie dyers don't use Urea. So, it is not an absolutely necessary item in tie dye.

[@myrazibang5645]

@@FunEndeavors ohhh i see. Urggh i love the way you explain :D You such a great teacher. New knowledge for me! TQSM

[@FunEndeavors]

@@myrazibang5645 great - I'm glad it was helpful!

[@bettaariffarm3902]

Sorry what urea sir. color extinguisher Sir or not

[@FunEndeavors]

Urea is used to help get the dye into solution and to help keep the item from drying out during while the shirt is processing before rinsing it out. I'm not sure what color extinguisher is.

[@samanthanicholson9015]

How do you make soda ash?

[@FunEndeavors]

I purchase the soda ash from Dharma Trading Company and then I mix the soda ash solution. I add 1 cup of soda ash to 1 gallon of water. Soda Ash: www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/soda-ash-fixer.html

[@barrybadger7816]

Hi A, do you check your PH. if so how do you do it

[@FunEndeavors]

No, I don't regularly check the pH of my soda ash solution. You can do that though by purchasing either some pH paper or even a digital pH meter.

[@barrybadger7816]

@@FunEndeavors I do check my pH here in the UK with paper strips but I dont know whether its better to have a Higher reading( above 11) or below.

[@FunEndeavors]

@@barrybadger7816 I think that the perfect pH for tie dye is about 10.5 - 11. According to Paula Burch, soda ash will rarely raise the pH above 12. Here is one link to where she discusses pH and tie dye: www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyeblog/C1845207367/E1917178699/index.html#:~:text=The%20very%20nice%20thing%20about,pH%20of%2010.5%20to%2011. If you haven't ever checked out her site, she has a ton of great tie dye information and I use her site for reference quite often: www.pburch.net/dyeing.shtml

[@barrybadger7816]

@@FunEndeavors thanks for very interesting info on Burch site

[@FunEndeavors]

You're welcome. Her site is so helpful. She even has charts showing how to mix dye colors using the primaries.

[@devbachu7072]

Can you t dye without the urea😊

[@FunEndeavors]

Yes, you just need to make sure your items don't dry out until they have had plenty of time for the dye to bond with the fabric.

[@ZarpeParadise]

Love how you explain everything!!! Check your blog on the ** recipes. Thanks so much!

[@FunEndeavors]

Thank you!

[@matthewnwoba6562]

What if you mix it with hot water

[@FunEndeavors]

If the water is too hot, it will activate the dye and it won't last as long.

[@matthewnwoba6562]

@@FunEndeavors so ordinary water is okay for the dye What about the soda ash, is it going to be mixed with hot water or normal warm water

[@matthewnwoba6562]

One more question please I don't know how to tie dye black. What color is the best suitable for tie dyeing black?

[@FunEndeavors]

@@matthewnwoba6562 The soda ash can be mixed with regular warm water to dissolve the soda ash.

[@FunEndeavors]

@@matthewnwoba6562 Most dye suppliers offer a black dye. If you want to tie dye an item that is already black - you will need to discharge (or reverse dye) part of the dye before you can add dye into the garment.

[@greimalkin]

How do you make one that looks like fire? Someone at my center wants to do it

[@FunEndeavors]

I haven't intentionally made one that looks like fire before. However, I did a reverse dye and I think it kind of ended up looking like flames. You could adjust the dye you add and maybe make it look more like fire. Here's a link to the one I'm referring to. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o53YmYCdr7qUi9k

[@greimalkin]

@@FunEndeavors thank you, I had the same intuition but she wants to start with a white shirt 😑🤷🏻‍♀️ that shirt looks amazing 😘👌

[@FunEndeavors]

@@greimalkinthank you!

[@delialiwanag8884]

How many shirt can i soak in a gallon of water with soda ash?

[@FunEndeavors]

It really just depends on the size of the shirts. You can probably get at least 5-6 adult size shirts in a gallon. You can also reuse the soda ash water after your wring your shirts out. Just wring the soda ash water back into your container and reuse it.

[@delialiwanag8884]

You said that you're using urea because it's hot in your place. So, would you recommend it to me since i'm from the Philippines and the climate here is generally hot?

[@FunEndeavors]

@@delialiwanag8884 The Urea helps keep the dye from drying out in the shirt as quickly while it is processing. If it is hot where you live, it would be a good idea to add Urea to your liquid dye. It definitely won't hurt to add it.

[@delialiwanag8884]

@@FunEndeavors Thank you so much. You've been such a great help. I hope you dont mind me asking so many questions coz i'm going to start a tie dye business. God bless!

[@FunEndeavors]

@@delialiwanag8884 You are welcome. I hope your business does well.

[@greimalkin]

Why is soda ash dangerous to inhale?

[@FunEndeavors]

It isn't necessarily dangerous, but it is an irritant and I am pretty sensitive to it. So, I wear gloves and use my respirator when I mix it up. It doesn't bother some people though. Lots of tie dyers can tie shirts that have been soaked in soda ash without it bothering their hands, but it dries mine out too bad.

[@FormerlyDeadPresentlyUndead]

*Sodium Carbonate is just Baking Soda Guys

[@FunEndeavors]

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 and soda ash is Na2CO3. Sodium Carbonate is a stronger base (NaOH).

[@momijiyamanishi4548]

For safety sake, put the water in the bucket before you add the soda ash

[@FunEndeavors]

You're right! Normally I add a little water to the bottom of the container before adding soda ash.

[@bettaariffarm3902]

What urea

[@FunEndeavors]

Urea is used to help get the dye into solution and to help keep the item from drying out during while the shirt is processing before rinsing it out.

[@muhammadhalliq3718]

Pake bahasa Indonesia donk

[@FunEndeavors]

I'm sorry, but I don't speak Indonesian.