The Way to Dye Lace Fabric
Certain fabrics just don’t take dye well no matter what you do. So before you begin your lace-dyeing undertaking, make certain the lace material may take the dye. Most over-the-counter products function on 100 percent cotton, ramie, linens, silk and wools. You can also dye blended fabrics that contain at least 60 percent cotton or synthetics like nylon and rayon. Acrylic, spandex, vinyl, fiberglass, acetate, metallic and 100 percent polyester cloths don’t take dyes and wind up looking splotchy.
Cover your work area with newspapers or even a plastic dropcloth to avoid dye spots in which you don’t want them.
Set the rubber gloves on your hands to prevent staining your hands together with the dye.
Follow the instructions for combining the dye merchandise on the package. Ensure you mix enough dye to completely soak the fabric which you would like to modify. A box of powdered wax having a net weight of 1 1/8 ounces can alter the color of approximately 3 yards of lace fabric when combined with warm water. An 8-ounce bottle of liquid dye colors approximately 6 yards of medium-weight fabrics.
Heat three or more gallons of water to the stove when dyeing 1 dry pound or 3 yards of lace cloth till it attains a temperature of at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If the warm water tap produces water at that temperature, then only add 3 liters of it to the 5-gallon bud.
Dissolve powdered wax entirely in two cups of the warm water to prevent the dye creating dark splotches on the cloth. Stir with a spoon until the water and wax are evenly combined.
Pour the two cups of dye into the warm water, or pour 4 ounces of liquid dye in 3 liters of the heated water when dyeing at the very least a pound of dry cloth. While utilizing the liquid dye, vigorously shake the bottle.
Insert the lace fabric into the dye mix. Poke the material using the spoon to thoroughly saturate it with dye and stir to get the first five minutes. Immerse the material a minimum of 30 minutes for around an hour if you keep the water warm — at the dye bath to secure heavier, richer colors. Repeatedly stir and agitate the material as it steeps from the dye bath every 5 to 10 minutes to thoroughly inundate the material with the color. Allow the coloured material to cool at the dye bath before rinsing.
Wash the coloured lace in warm water to remove surface dye, then rinse in cool water until the rinse includes no wax as well as the water is clean.
Wash the dyed lace in the washing machine in warm-water using light laundry detergent with rinse set to cold. Hang the material to dry out on the clothesline or use the dryer.