Originally Posted by
dorismae904
I tea dyed a few samplers I made years ago. They were softer and I found them easier to work with. After the sampler was done, I washed them and they came out very well. Of course, mine were then framed and hang on the wall. Are you going to dye them before cross stitching them? I would try one and wash it and see if the dye runs. Good luck.
Yes, I'd be dyeing it before she stitched it. Fiber-reactive dye doesn't run (or fade much.) It becomes part of the cotton fibers, rather than sitting on top like Rit. After dyeing, the fabric is washed in hot water until the rinse water runs clear. (Eek, a step I forgot to mention before! All the more reason to baste it to muslin.) I have t-shirts, worn and washed regularly, that are still bright.