I know some one here must be interested in dying their own fabri.........here is a tecnique I was told about
supplies:
Powered rit dye
Can shaving cream [no oils added] Colgate is a good one
something to cover your table
plastic wrap

fabric in size that is convient to handle , fat quarters good
spread shaving cream on table about an inch thick
dissolve 2 teaspoons of dye in water
dribble swirl ,or streak on shaving cream
lay fabric on top of this, you will see it soak up the dye, when it looks good to you, lay it out on plastic wrap, right side up
roll up and put in mirowave, just long enough to set the dye
rinse well and dry
I going to try it in orange this weekend
I was told it has a marbled look

I am definitely doing that!! Gathering up the supplies today. Thanks, Ruthie. This really sounds like fun. :D

Dharma Trading Co. also has instructions on their website.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1498922-AA.shtml

Judy

Ruth and JudyGail, thank you so much for this info. I've been playing around with hand dyeing and this is a wonderful idea. With the dyes from dharma dye you don't have to microwave. It doesn't take heat to set. I can't wait to try this.

Not to bad for a first

Now this is awesome. I tried playing some with this. I have it in the washer, so I'm excited to see how it looks after!!

That is why I love this site. Always new ideas to try. I would never have thought of using shaving cream. Sounds like fun and hope to try it soon!

That looks great, what a neat idea, am definately going to have to have a play with that. I love marbeled look fabric and is so hard to get what you want over here, dyeing is definately a good alternative.

Have microwave tea dyed for a mottled effect for the background of my Baltimore but never thought of using ithat method with commercial dyes. I wonder if I will be able to get suitable dyes here. Will have to experiment, that should keep me out of trouble for a while :lol:

That looks so interesting! Thanks!!!

Thats awesome! I like that. I'd end up with dye all over everything--I think Murphy's Law was invented because they were talking about me and what a klutz I am. I'll just look and admire for now. Thanks for sharing.

Vicki--Hey ! ! Don't put yourself down ! ! I've eaten your cooking --especially desserts and I've seen what great work you do with the sewing machine --in person ! YOU ARE NOT A KLUTZ !! cuz I know you're not. Love ya, Sis.
Virginia

Ahhhh but you have forgotten how much trouble I used to have trying to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time :lol: But I love you for saying that! :-)

Thanks. I have just started looking into dying my own fabric. I have only done one piece so far. I will try this for sure.

And, to make it even more fun, take tiny bits of undisolved dye of the same or a contrasting color and lightly sprinkle or dab on as a second or third color. Lightly spray with a fine mist, and apply the cloth. That separates some of the shaving cream and the concentrated dye makes the spider-like veins that marble has.

This gives another really cool effect. Reminds me of the late 60's and Hippie days!

Hmm..I reckon I could be called a hippie now, but it is more the physique than the "peace and love child" kind.

MY grandsone and I did the shaving cream dying the other day. He had a ball. It came out ok but kind of light. I like to have more color and bolder. so after we took spray bottle and sprayed dye on them. much more color. I also made the mistake of folding them before they were compleatly dry and saw that the color went to the fold lines. So next time I think I am going to try putting them in a ball and see what happens. more lines and not straight I hope

This looks like a lot of fun. Have "mottled" fabric using bleach, but have never tried the dying yet. Used to have a blast tie dying when I was younger, and actually bought a kit when it was on sale at JoAnns, but haven't used it yet.

WHAT A TOTALLY COOL IDEA!! THANK YOU!

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_fabrics_other/article/0,1793,HGTV_3390_1396417,00.html

This is the method used on a Simply quilts episode. I really enjoyed watching it. It looked like fun and the fabric you got afterward can never be copied. Hope this helps you,

Rita

Sounds like a really fun thing to do with the girls. We're having Alicia's B-day party this coming Sunday...maybe it would be a cool thing for the wee ones to do...perhaps they can use the cloth to sew up their own little goody bags. Some plastic point needles, some yarn, and a hole punch...yeah I think it might just work. Thanks guys!!!...I'll tell everyone to send the kids in old play outfits that won't be a problem if they get a bit colorful and see how it goes.