andrew_kelly•2mo agoProlific Poster

My fabric dye disaster at the Brooklyn studio

I was trying to hand-dye a batch of silk for a new dress design, using this specific indigo kit I bought online. The instructions said to mix the powder with warm water, but I got impatient and used hot water from the tap. Big mistake. The whole thing turned into this weird, lumpy paste that smelled like a wet dog. I was in my tiny apartment studio, with this blue goop all over my hands and starting to drip on the floor. I had to grab a bucket and try to scoop it all up before it stained the hardwood. The whole project was ruined, and I had to order new fabric, which set me back about $60. Has anyone else had a dye mix go completely wrong because of the water temperature?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora_wood432mo ago

Hot water works fine for me every time. Sounds like you got a bad kit or mixed it wrong. The lumpy paste means you didn't stir it enough. Water temp is just an excuse for a messed up batch.

mia_lee1mo ago

Actually, cold water can work better for some mixes to prevent it from setting up too fast. The lumps might come from the powder clumping in hot water before you can even stir it. It's not always about the mixing, sometimes the instructions are just wrong.

alex8092mo ago

Remember my friend's lumpy cold water disaster?