Snow Dyeing Basics
I know there are LOTS of tutorials on the web about snow dyeing but when I decided to do some snow dyeing last week I thought I'd also share my process and talk about alternative methods. My method uses Procion MX dyes. If you don't have snow you can use ice, crushed or cubed. You will get different effects and it's worth experimenting.
Of course I start with fabric! It is soda soaked for 10 - 15 minutes. I squeeze out the excess liquid and arrange the fabric in a bin. I never start with dry soda-soaked fabric because around here we just don't have that much planning time with snow....but you can start with dry or wet.
Many people put their fabric on a screen of some sort over a sink or bin so that the melted snow drips through instead of having the fabric sit in the water. Either way works and you should try both because you get different effects. My way is the lazy way.
Many people put their fabric on a screen of some sort over a sink or bin so that the melted snow drips through instead of having the fabric sit in the water. Either way works and you should try both because you get different effects. My way is the lazy way.
Next pile on the snow. I generally pile snow to the top of the container and then pour dye over the snow. In my experience snow dyeing requires more dye than regular dyeing because the batching temperature is so low. You can use dye powder or liquid concentrate. Try both because the effect will be different and you might like both for different reasons.
If you are going to use dye powder directly on the snow be sure to use a respirator. Once mixed with water they are fine but you do not want to inhale dye powders.
If you are going to use dye powder directly on the snow be sure to use a respirator. Once mixed with water they are fine but you do not want to inhale dye powders.
Here's how the fabric looks as the snow starts to melt. Depending on the temperatures it could take a day for all the snow/ice to melt. Be patient but you can speed it along a bit by putting the containers in a warm spot but not somewhere that would be ruined with a dye spill.
Here's how they looked after a few hours. I left the bins in my basement (which is about 60 degrees) for 24 hours and then washed them out using my normal process of long hot soaks until all the excess dye has been released.
Here are the fabrics from this session and I'm really happy with all of them. Snow dyeing does give different textures than other types of dyeing and it's worth giving it a try.
