Smooth Colors - Basics

Key for success

• Prepare the fabric for dying through 'scouring'. (Scouring can be complicated (better) or simple -- simple is using a washing machine with the hottest water & 1/4 cup of soda ash and about 1 T of Synthrapol (Dawn dish soap in a pinch) for each pound (dry) of fabric. 
• Must keep the fabric moving (FOR smooth colors), especially the first 10 minutes. So, figure out a way to be comfortable while this goes on. Music? Podcast? Meditative swirling? 
• Use long heavy duty protective gloves. (Soda ash is harsh on skin --- it does work well to remove waxes and other unwanted chemicals from fabric.) 
• Squeezing and swooshing remain important during the remaining 20 minutes (for a total of 30 minutes works best - longer doesn't add anything - some say 20 minutes total is sufficient - my testing so far says 30 minutes gets me better color)
• Soda ash (pre-dissolved in water) is added after 30 minutes. BUT I now take the fabric out of the bath. Never pour it in over fabric as that usually means some fabric gets a big 'hit' of soda ash and will keep the color different from other parts of the fabric. Read the post on soda ash for more info. 

The steps

1. Fill bucket with sufficient very warm water for the amount of fabric - for 1 pound of fabric (a lot of fabric) use 3 gallons water. 
2. Add 1 cup non-iodized salt for each gallon of water, stir to dissolve. (Salt is essential for smooth colors - it pushes the dye from the water into the fabric). 
3. Add in the needed amount of dye (see details in my relevant section) and stir.
4. Add the fabric, get comfortable, start swirling and timing. 
5. At the end of time, move fabric (into an empty, clean bucket?), add soda ash water, swirl, re-add fabric, and continue swirling for about 15 minutes. Keep the fabric in bath for at least 5 more minutes; I usually wait at least an hour unless I want a light color. The fabric should still be moved every several minutes ---- but the first 20 minutes of the fabric's time in the dye bath is the most important time for actively moving the fabric and dye. 

Rinsing and washing:

• I also usually use time to help with rinsing. I do a quick cool rinse out then let the fabric soak in plain water for hours as this apparently works as well as many quick rinses. 
• Now using Dawn Pure dish detergent for washing out the dye instead of "professional textile detergents" or Synthropol. This has been tested and proven by experts. 
• Found a collapsible bucket works great for transferring my wet fabric to my front loading washer - as it fits right inside and minimizes any drips outside the machine.
• Do NOT spin the fabric fiercely while washing the first time (my machine can get real fierce). I've had creases get set from this --- when I mistakenly had thought all the excess dye was rinsed out. 

• Some use Retayne to set the dye.