2. DYE (for dark colours – articles that can be boiled)
This is the best way to obtain colour fast, dark colours. e.g., Black, Dark Brown, Navy Blue, Bottle
Green etc.
• Use a large saucepan or similar container and bring the dye bath to the boil on a stove or
Bar-B-Que. Use a container large enough to allow article to be well spread and to be
moved about freely.
• Use sufficient water to immerse the article completely.
• Dissolve dye in a small container at rate of 10g per 250ml of hot water. Stir well and strain
through old handkerchief or similar, to remove any undissolved dye. 10 g of dye will colour
up to 1/2kg dry weight of material (approximately 2.5 metres of medium weight material).
Some fibres such as wool tend to absorb more dye for their weight.
• Fill container with the required amount of water and add the strained dye solution.
• Addition of cooking salt to the dye bath (use salt in same ratio as dye) will assist in the
penetration of the dyestuff. This may be especially useful when dyeing dark colours or
where water is considered hard.
• Mix well and then add the clean, wet, spread -out article.
• Raise temperature to simmer (if possible).