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Fabric Gradient Dye Tutorial
Published: 2011-05-05 23:09:06 +0000 UTC; Views: 97924; Favourites: 2887; Downloads: 808
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Description
At last, the long awaited Gradient Dyeing Tutorial! I'm sorry it took so long to make, but here you go!I've had a lot of practice with this method, and this is the formula that works best for me, so I hope it can help you dye your fabric with ease. Fabric dyeing is actually one of my favorite parts about costuming, so please don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any - I'll be glad to answer them!
Tutorial and all images therein are Copyright Fire Lily and FireLilyCosplay.com.
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Comments: 164
This is wonderful... but I do have one question. How or where do you suggest dying large amounts of fabric this way? (like the pink/yellow skirt... do you use a large bucket?)
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If you aren't gradient dyeing it, you can dye your fabric using your washing machine. You should be able to fit at least 5 yards of fabric into your washer.
If you are trying a gradient dye, you can still using the washing machine (top loading). Put your dye and detergent in, let the washer agitate it a bit, then open it up and start dipping your fabric in. Once you get it to the color you want, let the washer cycle finish and then run it again with bleach to make sure all the excess dye is out.
If that isn't an option, try a bath tub or a large Rubbermaid bin or metal tub.
I personally have a very large metal bowl that I use for most of my dyeing - it can fit about 2 yards of fabric inside, but I can also run the fabric into the bowl if I have more. Like starting with one end, soaking it in the dye, then moving the fabric through in sections until it's all dyed.
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I really appreciate that tutorial! Fabric dying always made me hesitant, but this tutorial will be my security blanket when I give it a try! ♥
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i loved this pic and i like your dark blue shoe
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Ah, wonderful tutorial. Can't wait to try it out. (Wish me luck, since it's my first time dyeing anything.) XB
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Good luck!! I hope tit turns out well
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Another great tutorial FireLily! You're amazing, thank you so much for share this
I don't have any project with gradients, but I'll try to do that as soon as I can! xD
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So wonderful!! FireLily, this is beyond helpful!! Many thanks!! 
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You are very welcome!
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lD I so needed this. Though I hope this can work with a dark red.
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I'm sure it can. I guess it depends on what color you are trying to go from and to. If to a dark red, use 2 packs of dye to get a really vibrant dark red color and be careful of splashing or it will leave pink stains. If going from a dark red to a darker color, that should be too hard. Again, use 2 dye packs for a daraker, more vibrant color.
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Yeah, I was attempting to fabric paint a yellow gradient on a deep red fabric. Worked like crap. So I'm going to try this rout this time on a like beige swatch.
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Ah, I see. It would definitely be easier to get the red gradient on beige/yellow fabric. You can do it on red fabric, but you have to bleach the color out or use a color remover to strip the red out, then try to blend in a yellow.
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Happy Resources Week! This resource has been featured in my journal here: [link]
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Perfect! I was searching for this kind of tutorial for a long time... Thanks!
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Your tutorials are always so awesome. *faves*
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You are very welcome!!
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Is it ok to dye fabric that isn't white? Like if I wanted to make something turquoise, dark blue?
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Absolutely! As long as you are starting with a light colored fabric, you can dye it to a darker color. just keep in mind that the fabric content has to be 65% or more natural fiber (like cotton, linen, silk, rayon, etc) for the dye to set in well
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Okay, thank you for the info!
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Oh my god! You are like a saint right now!
I was just googling this the other day trying to figure out how to do it, and I couldn't find any tutorials on it. Thank you so much!
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woah i'd really like to try, thank you for this tutorial! (=
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How wonderful! I love the fading look you can produce with this. 
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THank you so much for the information! I can't wait to try dyeing my own fabrics!
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You are welcome - good luck!
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whow that's cool
every time I try dyeing it fails. I do everything what's written on the directions but have bad luck with the fabric. not every fabric is able to hold the dye. you don't even to wash it out with cold water.. it gets out of the fabric with just pulling it out of the dye-bath even if it's there for hours...
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Sounds like you've been trying to dye synthetic materials (aka polyester, or fabric with plastic finishes). Try to check the fabric content prior to purchasing - if it's at least 65% cotton, it will dye.
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yeah but it's kinda hard if you don't know the fabric material by just looking at it and the shop doesn't write everything down. the last fabric I buyed was written as to be cotton and I bet there is something else in there...
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Hmm...an easy way to check is to do the burn test. Make sure you don't do this in store, though!! If it's cotton/linen/silk, the threads will burn and leave flaky ash and smell like burning hair or leaves. If it's synthetic material, it will leave little or hardened ash (think melted plastic) and smell like chemicals or plastic-y.
Blends are harder to distinguish, unfortunately :/
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hehe testing in shops would be funny XD
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This is amazing dear! Thank you so much for sharing!!
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You are welcome!
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Looks really nice, and I like that you used products I can find
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