How much dye powder and soda ash should I use?

The soda ash solution should be mixed at a strength of 1 cup to 4 litres of warm water and you should soak your fabric for at least 15 minutes. Then you can hand wring the fabric thoroughly or use the spin cycle (no rinse) on your washing machine.

Procion fibre reactive dyes are suitable for natural, cellulose fibres like cotton and will not work with synthetics like polyester.

The dyes need about half a teaspoon of dye powder to 200ml of water. This ratio can be adjusted depending on the strength and vibrancy of colour that you’re after (less powder for pastels, more powder for deeper colours). Dark Black requires about 3x this amount.

Once the powdered dyes are mixed with water, the colours will start to lose their vibrancy and it's recommended that you use them up within 48 hours of mixing. Keeping them cold will help prolong their life, although please store them away from food.

Are your dyes safe for babies and children?

The procion dyes come in a fine powdered form, which like any powder, can cause respiratory issues if inhaled. We recommend using a dust mask and gloves (both included in our tie dye kits) or respirator (what we use for our frequent dealings with the powdered dyes) when handling the powdered dyes. Once they are dissolved in water, they are harmless unless consumed, which is why we always recommend mixing and storing your dyes well out of the reach of babies and children.

When the correct dyeing and washout process is followed, procion fibre reactive dyes form a permanent bond with the fibres in the fabric, meaning that they won't run in the wash or leach into children's mouths if they chew or suck on the dyed fabric. Some other types of dyes act more like a paint, in that they sit atop the fibres, never actually forming a permanent bond with them, making them a much less baby-safe option.

Can you come to our school/kinder/youth group/event to run a tie dye workshop?

We would love to, and the short answer is, "maybe!".

​Send us a message here with the details of your event (date/time, number of children, age of children, etc), and we will be in touch soon!

Can you run a tie dye birthday party for my child?

Yep, I sure can! Click here for  all the details and send us a message to check our availability on your preferred dates.

I tried using your dyes but the colours aren't as vibrant as yours. Why not?

There are a few different variables that can affect the vibrancy of the colours, such as:

• Fabric composition: The dyes will only take to natural fibres such as cotton, so if you're using any fabric blends like cotton/polyester, then they will only take to cotton content of the fabric and not the polyester fibres, which can result in more pastel colours.
• Pre-washing fabric: For more consistent results in your dye absorption, be sure to prewash any fabric that you want to dye. This will help remove any factory chemical finishes, dirt, dust or grease that can affect the way the dyes take to the fibres.
• Soda ash soak: The fabric needs to be soaked for at least 15 minutes in soda ash solution of 1C to 4L of water.
• The strength of the dye mixtures: The dyes should be mixed at a strength of approximately half a teaspoon in 200mL of water. Use 3x this amount for Dark Black.
• Batching time: Once the dyes have been applied, the fabric needs to sit for at least 18-24 hours before rinsing. For best results, keep the fabric warm and damp during batching (wrapping in plastic is a good way to achieve this). If the fabric dried out during batching, the colours will stop processing and your results will be less vibrant.
• Wash-out process: Items should be hand rinsed in cold water until the fabric runs almost clear, and then thrown in the washing machine for a long wash with washing detergent. Avoid any washing powders that claim to "make whites whiter and colours brighter", or anything with "enzymes", as these can have a bleaching effect on the dyes.
• Age & storage of dyes: In their powdered form, procion fibre reactive dyes have a shelf life of 1-5 years depending on the colour, and it will gradually start to lose its strength and vibrancy. Shelf life is severely shortened by heat, light, and moisture.
  The only way to check for the freshness and vibrancy of your dye is to use them, and we recommend testing your older dyes before using them on a large or important project.
  

I suggest that you work through each of these steps and figure out where your problem is coming from and hopefully you'll improve your results!

Are your dyes environmentally safe?

As far as I have found from my research, the only issue with the environmental impact of procion dyes seems to be with the large amounts of water that are used in the washout process. Here at Sunny Daisy Tie Dye, we are very environmentally aware and we limit the amount of water needed in the washout as much as possible, as well as using a very water efficient washing machine.

Additionally, procion dyes are harmless to septic systems, and when spilled on the ground they lose their colour on the dirt within a few days, as they are broken down by soil microbes.

How much is postage?

Within Australia:
Free standard postage on orders over $120.
​Flat rate postage of $9.95 for standard or $15 for Express Post, Australia wide.

International:
Please contact us to calculate postage rates before placing your order.