1. Scour the fabric by machine washing in HOT water, or by hand in a pot on the stove - it is a good idea to add ½ tsp/2 g Soda Ash and ½ tsp/2.5 ml liquid detergent per 454g/1lb of fabric. Rinse thoroughly. This step does not add the soda ash to the fabric; it prepares your fabric for dyeing by removing any dirt or finishing chemicals.

2. Dissolve dye powder in in room temperature water (24o to 35oC) and set aside. Prepare dye bath by measuring 10 litres of room temperature water (24o to 35oC) for every 454g/1lb of fabric into a large plastic, stainless steel, enamel or non-reactive metal container. Container should be large enough for the fabric to move freely and to stir the dye bath without spilling.

3. Add salt to the dye bath and stir until dissolved. (**) Add dissolved dye and stir. Add washed and damp fabric. Stir continuously for even results for 10 to 15 minutes, or do not stir for mottled results.

4. Completely dissolve Soda Ash in warm water and add to the dye bath - do not pour it directly onto the fabric. Stir continuously for the first 5 minutes, then give a stir every 5 minutes for the next 50 minutes. This will insure maximum permanence and depth of shade (30 minutes for pastels).

5. After 60 minutes, dyeing is complete. Remove fabric from dye bucket and pour the exhausted dye bath down the drain. Rinse fabric thoroughly in a bucket of room temperature water. Wash in HOT water & 1 1/2 tsp liquid detergent or Synthrapol. Rinse well and dry as usual.

Option 2 - Washing Machine Dyeing

This is an efficent way to dye if you have a large amount of fabric that needs to be dyed one colour. It is not cost effective if you are dying just one nappy.

For 1.5 - 2.3 kg of dry fabric (Unwashed hemp fleece weighs approx 465g per metre, so approx 4-5m of hemp) use:

6-8 cups salt

2-3 cups soda ash

3 - 9 Tablespoons/22.5g - 67.5g of dye

Note: The darker the colour, the larger the amount of ingredients.

Fabric should be pre-washed and wet before going into the dye bath. (see here for prewashing info)

1. Fill washing machine to medium load with warm water. Add salt and dye and agitate until dissolved, about 5 minutes.

2. Place wet fabric in machine and agitate for 20 minutes (you need to make sure that you are extending the agitation time without draining or adding water.)

3. In a different container, dissolve soda ash in warm water. Add to dye bath.
agitate for 50 minutes (30 minutes for pastels).

4. Let machine drain and finish the rinse cycle.

5. To clean the machine, run through a complete rinse cycle with hot water.

Option 3 - Ziplock Bag Dyeing

Normally you want a container large enough for the fabric. With the ziplock bag method, you want an uneven dye job, so you put all the ingredients in the bag, mix the ingredients, cram the fabric in, shake a little and then let it sit. When you pull the fabric out you end up with a mottled piece that is tone on tone.

Notes

* The dyes will retain their ability to dye fabric for only a few hours after the soda ash is mixed into them. (Procion MX dyes without soda ash will stay good for at least a week after mixing, at normal room temperature.)

* If your water is very hard, you can dissolve 1 level tsp/7g Metaphos to soften the water at this (**) point.

* Non-iodized Salt is recommended. In most situations, salt with iodine can be used in place of Non-iodized Salt without altering dye results.