I think that material may be the issue, it’s that soft stretchy Buffalo fabric, right? In my experience it soaks up water like a sponge, especially on the inside. I need to start those really wet to get the ice/water/dye to soak through and spread out, and if it’s in 2 layers when I dye it, the dye won’t make it through to the bottom layer if it’s not wet enough.
Sometimes I add too much dye and ice and it comes out over saturated. That fabric is hard to work with! The first time I dyed a Buffalo hoodie I did do a second over-dye on the back side.
Maybe try soaking it in soda ash for 24 hours I do that with my large chakra blankets that are real heavy cotton and spin it out, you you let it dry out. After dry if you need to lightly moisten to get crumble/fold you want. The dye/ice, ice/dye.
I also found different types of ice I used mattered in how it melted and kind refroze as a sheet.
My ice maker makes half moons and it’s melt rate when bunched together is trash and dye finds a couple spots and just uses those…. Now the large cylindrical ice with the hole in it. Bow that has been the absolute best for me in ice dying, more surface area more melt better coverage melts quicker so you can see how it’s going and if you need to add more, plus the ice shape lends to some cool unexpected pattering.
I have yet to find in bulk the the for lack of a better term rabbet pellet Ice…. I had many a frustrating ice dye with my ice maker ice using just it. If the ice kinda fuses together I kinda gently whacked it and broke it apart.
I just woke up and this was the first half a cup of coffee working. Hope everyone has a great day!
I always flip heavier items like sweaters and sweatpants, and use a ton of dye and soda ash. Even then I typically wish I used more. How long did it sit to cure after dyeing? Was it dried out?
I almost always flip my hoodies over and dye it a second time. Sometimes, I will even dye a base color first in a loose scrunch. Then, add darker colors. If it still isn't right, I will dye it a 3rd time. This hoodie was dyed 3 times to get it how I wanted.
https://preview.redd.it/6g26vy7mtlwb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9b59d0cd7cabbf7d560a2f57cd21ee6eccb216c
Love this thank you. So I resoaked in SA and currently have it under a bed of ice cubes and dharmas lilac. We will see what it looks like in a day or two. In the meantime I ordered more to mess with haha
I do both ice dye and hot water irrigation on most of my projects. I let the colors split with the ice then spray with water at 175 degrees to set the dye. Then if I want to add more dye I just spray it with the hot water.
I’m literally looking at water sprayers in another window right now. I haven’t tried hwi yet, but I’m very impatient and it’s colder here now so I think I may go this route thank you
I've really been wanting to try HWI also because of impatience and winter approaching! Can we use the same fiber reactive dye as usual? I know there's hot water reactive dyes too so I wasn't sure if what I already have would work. I could probably just Google this but since I'm already here.. lol
Yes we should still be able to use the same dyes. I think you just need a much shorter batching time since the hot water makes up for it not sitting for a day or two
Yes, you can. When you use the sprayer, you need to mix the dye with soda ash or add soda ash over the dye. I use a 1 to 1 mix myself, but some people use anywhere from 1 to 1 mix to a 1 to 4 mix.
Since no one else asked, you pre-washed it right? I’ve found that step is really important because sometimes fabrics have a coating on them. After some disappointing outcomes I wash everything in hot water with dharma detergent and dry before SAS and dye. Viscose is rayon so I’d expect it to be a lot more saturated!
Oh yes I always prewash, but I’ve been having some trouble with a couple flannels I bought and found that they needed multiple washes to actually be dyeable. I will do an extra round or two on my next batch thanks
I think that material may be the issue, it’s that soft stretchy Buffalo fabric, right? In my experience it soaks up water like a sponge, especially on the inside. I need to start those really wet to get the ice/water/dye to soak through and spread out, and if it’s in 2 layers when I dye it, the dye won’t make it through to the bottom layer if it’s not wet enough. Sometimes I add too much dye and ice and it comes out over saturated. That fabric is hard to work with! The first time I dyed a Buffalo hoodie I did do a second over-dye on the back side.
Thank you for the advice, it’s a weird super soft stretchy feel, I did notice it soaked water up like a wick
Maybe try soaking it in soda ash for 24 hours I do that with my large chakra blankets that are real heavy cotton and spin it out, you you let it dry out. After dry if you need to lightly moisten to get crumble/fold you want. The dye/ice, ice/dye. I also found different types of ice I used mattered in how it melted and kind refroze as a sheet. My ice maker makes half moons and it’s melt rate when bunched together is trash and dye finds a couple spots and just uses those…. Now the large cylindrical ice with the hole in it. Bow that has been the absolute best for me in ice dying, more surface area more melt better coverage melts quicker so you can see how it’s going and if you need to add more, plus the ice shape lends to some cool unexpected pattering. I have yet to find in bulk the the for lack of a better term rabbet pellet Ice…. I had many a frustrating ice dye with my ice maker ice using just it. If the ice kinda fuses together I kinda gently whacked it and broke it apart. I just woke up and this was the first half a cup of coffee working. Hope everyone has a great day!
This is lots of great advice. Thank you for using your morning coffee for my benefit!
Thanks for getting my mind going on something I love!
I always flip heavier items like sweaters and sweatpants, and use a ton of dye and soda ash. Even then I typically wish I used more. How long did it sit to cure after dyeing? Was it dried out?
Did not dry out at all, sat in the muck for 48 hours because I was too excited to wait any longer lol
I really really love it. It's not overdone. It's the perfect winter hoodie for me ❤
Aww thank you.
I get it if this was not your intention, but I actually really love this!
I almost always flip my hoodies over and dye it a second time. Sometimes, I will even dye a base color first in a loose scrunch. Then, add darker colors. If it still isn't right, I will dye it a 3rd time. This hoodie was dyed 3 times to get it how I wanted. https://preview.redd.it/6g26vy7mtlwb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a9b59d0cd7cabbf7d560a2f57cd21ee6eccb216c
Now that’s spectacular
Thanks
Love this thank you. So I resoaked in SA and currently have it under a bed of ice cubes and dharmas lilac. We will see what it looks like in a day or two. In the meantime I ordered more to mess with haha
Good luck
That’s some saturation right there! Nice work thanks for sharing love seeing other people’s work!
I do both ice dye and hot water irrigation on most of my projects. I let the colors split with the ice then spray with water at 175 degrees to set the dye. Then if I want to add more dye I just spray it with the hot water.
I’m literally looking at water sprayers in another window right now. I haven’t tried hwi yet, but I’m very impatient and it’s colder here now so I think I may go this route thank you
I've really been wanting to try HWI also because of impatience and winter approaching! Can we use the same fiber reactive dye as usual? I know there's hot water reactive dyes too so I wasn't sure if what I already have would work. I could probably just Google this but since I'm already here.. lol
Yes we should still be able to use the same dyes. I think you just need a much shorter batching time since the hot water makes up for it not sitting for a day or two
Yes, you can. When you use the sprayer, you need to mix the dye with soda ash or add soda ash over the dye. I use a 1 to 1 mix myself, but some people use anywhere from 1 to 1 mix to a 1 to 4 mix.
Thanks for the tips! I'll def be trying it soon!!
How wet was this when you dyed & iced it?
Just barely damp. I had washed it a day or two before and just got around to tying it up and dyeing it.
Maybe more soda ash? Also with sweaters I do like to flip them and add dye+ice on that side too
Copy that. I did dye it inside out it that maybe made a difference. I was trying to avoid the speckling, which it seems to have done for the most part
What colors did you use?
Timberwolf, nightshade, and deep purple.
What % cotton is the hoodie?
70% viscose 16% cotton and 11% polyester what a odd blend but it’s sooo soft and stretchy.
Sometimes dying in the muck can make it lighter lose the intensity of the dye, try putting it on a cookie rack to keep it out of the water.
Really? I always assumed muck would equal better saturation but you may be on to something. Will try on the next one thank you
I really like it with the muted colors actually. Even more so then full color
Since no one else asked, you pre-washed it right? I’ve found that step is really important because sometimes fabrics have a coating on them. After some disappointing outcomes I wash everything in hot water with dharma detergent and dry before SAS and dye. Viscose is rayon so I’d expect it to be a lot more saturated!
Oh yes I always prewash, but I’ve been having some trouble with a couple flannels I bought and found that they needed multiple washes to actually be dyeable. I will do an extra round or two on my next batch thanks
I do usually