Original Putty swatch on the right, dyed Brac on the left
Brac Mood Fabric Dyeing Update (Full Dye List and Measurements/Method):
To dye without a top-loading washing machine...
I survived my vacation and had an awesome time in Finland (though I did get a cold at the end), so I was out for a while on dyeing anything. I just dyed my Brac over the previous two nights and am sharing all from my sister post on the FB Rey Cosplay Community. Cheers! P.S. - I have a couple of Putty swatches available, if anyone needs.
Rubber gloves that go above your elbows + ventilated work space
1 American teaspoon of 5 ml measure
1 VERY large square plastic storage tub, set in bathtub (use a shower or painters liner taped to tub if you are concerned about dyeing a white tub. Mine is old brown, the dye left no marks)
4 Yards Brac Mood Fabric, pre-washed cold, left damp.
5 gallons really warm tap water
3 rounded spoons of Dharma Fiber Reactive Dye in Brazilnut,
1 rounded spoon of Dharma Fiber Reactive Dye in Dutch Chocolate
3 spoons liquid Rit Dye in Dark Brown
2.5 cups plain salt
1/3 cup soda ash fixer.
Steeping Time: 25 minutes
Follow the Dharma instructions on their website for the entire process, especially when putting in the soda ash (I had an extra little recyclable plastic tub to mix all powdered dyes with water first). I used my gloved hands for this, not a paddle. Rinse according to their instructions. Wring out, place in washing machine on delicate, cold water only. Let air dry (will be too light to match Putty at this stage, also too brown).
Round 2 Dye Bath:
1 American teaspoon of 5 ml measure
3.5 gallons really warm tap water.
1 cup salt
8 spoons Liquid Rit Dye in Dark Brown
14 spoons Liquid Rit Dye Charcoal Grey
2 Packets Dylon Olive Green Powdered Dye
Steeping Time: 45 Minutes
I put the fabric into the dye tub wet, I swirled it around for a bit with my gloved hands, working the dye in really well and then leaving it for about 45 minutes. Then I came back, rinsed it in cold water in the tub (took a while), squeezed the excess out, took it down to my front-loader and put it in on a cold/warm delicate wash with liquid detergent and softener. Hang to air dry.
This is my first dye job like this and I hope this proves somewhat helpful, although I fully admit my method is absolutely bonkers. I dyed it once, dried it, then came and dyed it again, gah! I don't know any other way to do this, whether it would work in a washing machine, whether it would work in hot washing machine water (the Dharma dye probably won't, as you need to add the soda ash fixer carefully and the instructions said warm water, not hot). But maybe other Rey's can find a happy in-between, using the info from my two posts.
