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I am not an
Expert on dyeing but here is some things I believe to be true. Dye, and
Stain at your own risk.
There are two
major categories of dye: natural and synthetic. Natural dyes create beautiful
colors, earthy tones. They often have natural mordants that are chemical
so how safe are they? A mordant is what help the dye bond to the fibers,
and is often toxic. So don't treat it with any less care than the synthetic
dyes. Because synthetic dye's are easier to obtain they are used far more
often. These are Rit, Cushing, Napier, Basket Tree, Comcraft, Tintex are
all dyes that work well on reed,and pine needles, wood , plastic, fabric,
and gourds (not the best choice for gourds).
Fiber-reactive
dyes actually bond to the fiber molecule to make a lightfast color. They
are formulated for cellulose fibers, not protein fibers like wool. They
are harder to find and most of the time you will have to mail order them.
But if you can find silk dyes they are almost always a fiber-reactive
dye. Some tie-dye kits have fiber-reactive dye also so read the label
carefully. You don't know take down the company's name and phone and call
them. Most have an 1-800 number. Safety should always come first.
Keep dyes and Chemicals out of the reach of children. All are TOXIC to
some degree. Except Kool-Aid.(more later on Kool-Aid)
Label all containers
and put "Yuck" labels on them.
Never use dye
pots or spoons or any dye equipment for any thing else ever again except
in dying. Not even glass containers!
If you can dye
outside or in the garage, the room must be well ventilated, draft free.
That is not easy outside, so avoid windy days. The kids on you're street
will thing of you as a witch with your fire and big pot and stainless
steel spoon, stirring the brew.
Avoid breathing.
Ok you can breath just try not to take in the stuff in the dye pot.
Wear rubber,
vinyl gloves. Be careful of latex gloves many people are allergic and
some have died from there reaction. Do Not use disposable pans (Turkey
Roaster)
Where old clothes,
and wash them when you are done separately.
A paper mask
is helpful.
Use enamel or
stainless steal pots. Never Galvanized or aluminum pots, because they
will react with the dye. If you're enamel pot has a nick you can use "Bondo"
( car body filler) to patch the nick.
An old stove
will work; a camp stove if you have it in a draft free area. Be sure to
keep news papers and rags away from the flame.
House hold dyes
like Rit can be saved for use later in glass jars that are labeled. Leave
room for expansion if you are going to freeze them. If you use plastic
the dye will eat through it. Pour dye through a strainer before you use
again. If it was shelf stored mold will develop, straing will take out
the mold. It should not change the color much. I like to freeze to avoid
mold. Don't answer the phone or door and make sure some one else can take
care of the dog ,cat, kids, husband, wife or bird and Mother-inlaw.
PINE NEEDLES
I use a enamel
roaster pan to dye my needles. Wal-Mart has 4 sizes(S.M.L.XL.) and I like
the large size for needles. I use a canning pot for reed. The dye will
eat through the pot if keep there long. Empty you're dye into glass only
jars when done dying. The heat is on med. for needles and high for reed.
This is because the pot is bigger for reed and it takes longer to get
it hot. Bring pot to a simmer never boil. Carefully add you're dye it
will splash and can fizz up so go slowly and stir while adding. You can
mix Rit dye colors. I almost always do. I prefer the powder over the liquid.
I feel you're color is more controlable.
Place the needles
in the pot when the dye has already been mixed well. Simmer till a little
darker than you wanted. When the needles have dried they will be lighter
in color. If you soak the needles in warm water for a few minutes first
they will take the dye better. It can take one or two minutes to 20 minutes.
This depends on how much dye to water and what color you want. If you
need more color add it by the teaspoon full till it looks good. If it
is too dark add some water.
Place needles
on a news paper and I let mine set over night. Then I rinse with cold
water and vinager(1 cup) in a sink for 20 minutes or so. Now rinse till
clear. You can rinse right a way but you may loose a little more color.
Spread out on news papers to dry. If you use them right a way the will
bleed some on you're hands as you make the basket. If they set for two
months they may not bleed at all. It is hard to do things two months in
advance so use hand cream. Wash you're hands before you eat if you are
working with dyed needles. To get blue, green, teal, forest green, purple,or
black needles: dye needles that were pulled from the tree green and dried
in the shade. They will already be a light green. To get brown,
rust, gold, red, orange, dark brown, or wine: dye natural brown needles. Always put a
cup of bleach in you're dye pot when done. Make sure it goes all the way
up the sides. If you're pot is very big add more bleach. This is to remove
the dye from the water scale on the sides and bottom of the pot. It keeps
the next batch pure. To get pastels colors you can use some bleach in
a sink to soak the needdles first. This does not always work so well.
The bleaching does not bleach much. Then try dyeing a light color. You're needles
will always be a lighter shade of brown in the spring than in the fall.
Heat will darken them. So the longer you keep them at simmer they will
darken some. Needles gathered in the spring are best for pastels.
I use Rit
for a lot of needle work. I do put a warning label on my baskets to avoid
sitting in direct light and inform them it will fade with time. I made
my sister a basket 7 years ago that sits in a fluorescent lit bank. It
has faded from a deep navy blue to a pinkish purple color. The underside
of lid, inside of basket, and bottom are still the same navy blue. Shirley
my best friend received a forest green basket 5 years ago, she put it
near her greenhouse window and for a time under a light on her stove top.
That basket is now more olive than forest. If you look closely you can
see the natural brown of the needles peeking through. Yes it was made
with green dried needles but all needles will turn brown in there own
time. Unless kept in total darkness.
Always test first. The color of the needle will change the color of needle
when dyed.
Some of the
best needles I have found have been on the edge of forest fires. The needles
will be a beautiful reddish brown and still be flex able just as though
they were fresh green. I try to harvest needles that are down and brown
(Trees some one else has cut down and have turned or are fresh green).
The road maintenance worker or where they are clearing a lot for construction
is a good place to look. Good Luck on the needles.
Please do not make
baby rattles or any baby things out of reed. In the processing of the reed
formaldehyde and insecticides are used. Don't let the dog drink from the
bucket you soak the reed in. Reed is dyed
about the same way keep it at a simmer and watch the pot. Stir to keep
the color even and push it down into the dye evenly (turn reed frequently). Soak the reed
for 5 minutes before dyeing this helps the dye to penetrae the reed. If there are
no ties on the reed put some on loosely to keep the reed from tangling.
The blue ribbon some reed is tied with bleeds and can change the colors. To get a variegated
look in one color in flat reed only. Coil up the reed into a circle about
8 inches across. Now place a rubber band around the center a couple of
times. It should look like a 8. After you have dyed and rinse take off
the rubber band. The pressure of the band keeps the dye from getting to
that part of the reed. If the pressure is right; just enough color will
get through to give it a warn away look.
Top of Page
pine needle dyeing
Basket Etc..Link
Kool Aid Dyeing
It stains your shirt why not you're reed? Yes it is true, and kids love
to use this product. Just dissolve un-sweetened Kool-Aid in warm water
and let the reed soak for about 30 minutes. The depth of the color will
depend on the number of packages you used. About two packages work for
two ounces of #2 reed pine needles it takes more. Rinse and it's ready
to use.
Dyeing with
Fiber-Reative Dye
Small packages come with a "fixer" to help the dye bond to the molecule
of the fiber. Each package directions are a little different. Please fallow
the directions on the package. And this dye has been known to cause respiratory
problems.
These dyes can not be saved and used again. There shelf life is short
and you should only what you'll need and use within a few hours. Procion
by is a good bran.
In addition
to the dye you may need a water softner (Calgon works). Unidodized salt
and soda ash. Soda ash is washing soda and it causes the dye to bond to
the reed. ( The salt, soda ash, and water softner may not be needed with
some kits for silk or tie-dyeing kits. ) The salt makes the dye penetrate
the reed. The water softner neutralizes the chemicals that makes the water
hard. Fallow the direction on the package and give you're self lots of
time This method take more time but a lot less watching. You can do something
else while the dye bath is working.
Have Fun I hope my hints helped. You can also find some great hints on the Basket Etc... page for hints on dyeing. This is a wonderful place to go to learn all about all kinds of baskets. Please book mark or save as a favorite. Baskets Ect.. is one of mine.
Here is that
link. Baskets
Ect home page
Basket Etc..page on tips on basket making
Basket Ect..Dyeing Baskets page
Baskets Etc.. Page on staining baskets
Dharama Trading Compy has
many dyes. The best one for baskets, wood, needles,and gourds is Procion
it is a Fiber-reactive dye. For that page
Procion
Here is a link on how to
tub dyeing.
Liquid Procion and how to use it.
Rit Consumer
Service, Dept. CC-1, P.O. Box 21079, Indianapolis, IN 46221 . Rite
Dye
Pro Chemical
and Dye, Inc., Box 14, Somerset, Ma. 02726 Fiber reactive dyes
Pro Mx Dyes 508-676-3838. Orders only 1-800-2Buy Dye how to use with
reed and pine needle.
.
Fiber and Reed,
504 41st. Street N., Great Falls, MT 59401. They have a nice Dye information
booklet and Procion MX.
Crooked River
Crafts, P.O. Box917, LaFarge, WI. 54639. (608) 625-4460. Dyed reed
W. Cushing Co.,
P. O. Box 3513, Kennebunkport, ME 04016 Crshing "Perfection" dyes.
Atkinsons Country
House, 2775 Riniel Road, Lennon, Michigan.48449 For question or advice
only (810) 621-3058 For orders 1-800-832-3071 email orders or questions
http://www.sandya@tri.com" Sandy's web site at
Atkinson's Country Home Sandy has a show on P.B.S. on basketry
and has a wonderful catalog.
© 1997
pinebasket@hotmail.com
This home page <©> Copyright 1998, by Debbie Norton.
Photography by Greg Norton of Creative Images by Greg
Photos <©> Copyright 1998, by Greg Norton
