iDye Natural - Textile Dye for Natural Fibers | Purple

Jacquard iDye Natural - Dyeing instructions

iDye has easy-to-use, soluble dye sachets. For 100% natural fibres. Dyes 1-1.3 kg of dry fabric. 
Results can vary depending on the fabric, the temperature of the dye bath and the duration. Always test first. 
The dye bath (dye liquor) can be safely poured into the sewer or the drain.

Which iDye is the right one?

• iDye for Natural Fabrics for 100% natural fibres
• iDye Poly for 100% polyester & nylon 
• for blended fabrics of natural and synthetic fibres, combine similar colours from the iDye for Natural Fabrics and iDye Poly colour palette.

For best results:

• Read the complete instructions before you start dyeing.
• For the best results and maximum colour intensity, use the stove method.
• Stir calmly and evenly in the pot for an even dyeing result.
NOTE: use less dye for lighter shades.

Stove method:

Note: utensils and pots used for dyeing should not be used for food.
1. Fill a stainless steel or enamel pot with enough warm water so that the fabric can move freely. Turn the heat to medium.
2. Put the soluble iDye dye sachet into the water and stir until it has dissolved completely.
3. For cotton, linen and viscose/rayon, dissolve 250 g non-iodised salt in a little hot water and add it to the dye bath. For silk and wool, add 75 ml white vinegar instead of salt. Dye silk and wool only in the pot and heat them carefully to approx. 80 °C, not to boiling point. Please do not dye viscose at more than 80 °C. Avoid pouring the vinegar directly onto the fabric.
4. Add the pre-dampened fabric and raise the temperature until simmering, just below boiling point (85 °C).
5. Keep it at simmering point and stir frequently for 1/2 hour.
6. Turn off the heat and remove the fabric from the dye bath. Be careful, as the fabric and the dye bath will be very hot. Wear rubber gloves because the dye can stain skin.
7. Wash the fabric with a mild detergent in cold water and dry it.
8. After dyeing, you can fix the colour with iDye Fixative or any other textile dye fixative.

Top-loading washing machine method:

These instructions apply to US-style top-loading washing machines.
1. Fill the washing machine with just enough hot water for the fabric to move freely.
2. Add the soluble iDye dye sachet. Stir for 30 seconds or longer until the dye sachet has dissolved.
3. For cotton, linen and viscose/rayon, add 500 g non-iodised salt (e.g. the PATIN-A dyeing salt). For silk, add 200 ml white vinegar.
4. Add the pre-dampened fabric.
5. Extend the dyeing time by resetting the wash cycle before the rinse. The longer the dyeing time, the darker the colour and the better the fixation. We recommend a dyeing time of 50 to 60 minutes.
6. Let the cycle run to the end.
7. Wash the garment with a mild detergent in cold water and let it dry.
Note: clean your washing machine after dyeing. However, most washing machines retain some water in their outer tubs at the end of a wash cycle. After dyeing, run a short wash/rinse cycle with a heavy-duty detergent to remove any dye residue. If you have hard water, soap scum deposits can leave dye residue on the tub walls. You should remove it with a rough sponge,
8. After dyeing, you can fix the colour with iDye Fixative or any other textile dye fixative.

Front-loading washing machine method:

1. Dissolve the easily soluble iDye dye sachet in about 150 ml of hot water.
• For cotton, linen and viscose/rayon, dissolve 500 g non-iodised salt (e.g. the PATIN-A dyeing salt) in warm water.
• If you are dyeing silk, use 200 ml white vinegar instead of salt.
Please use a main wash without pre-wash.
2. Put the damp fabric into the machine.
3. Set your machine to the hottest water temperature and the longest wash cycle. If possible, try to extend the wash cycle. The longer you dye the fabric, the darker the colour and the better the fixation.
4. After about 10 minutes of washing, pour the dissolved iDye and the dissolved salt or vinegar into the detergent drawer.
5. Let the machine complete the whole wash cycle.
6. Then wash the garment with a mild detergent in cold water and let it dry.
Note: we recommend thoroughly cleaning your washing machine after using it for dyeing. Most front-loading washing machines collect residual water in the door seal and also retain some water in the outer tub. Wipe the door seal carefully and run a short wash cycle with a heavy-duty detergent after dyeing.
7. After dyeing, you can fix the colour with iDye Fixative or any other textile dye fixative.

*For polyester blends:

1. Choose an iDye Poly colour that comes closest to the iDye Natural colour you are dyeing and add both dye sachets to the dye bath.
2. Follow the stove dyeing method. Let the dye mixture simmer for 1/2 to 1 hour.

For cotton & silk blends:

If you have a blend of cotton and silk and do not know whether to add salt or vinegar, you have three options:
1. It is not strictly necessary: it will work with either salt or vinegar, so simply choose one.
2. Add neither salt nor vinegar, but use a very hot dye bath (stove method).
3. Make two separate dye baths, one with salt and one with vinegar. This is the best method if you want to dye dark colours.

iDye FAQs and troubleshooting

Can I dye viscose with iDye? And what do I do for nylon?
• Yes, iDye Natural is fantastic for dyeing viscose (which is really synthetic cotton). Nylon has to be dyed with iDye Poly.


Is the dye non-toxic?
• When used correctly according to the instructions, dyeing is safe. However, some shades are labelled, for example because of possible skin allergies. You will find the exact information for your shade in the description under “Hazard information” as soon as you select the shade. Always wear gloves when dyeing.


Which containers can I use?
• Ideally, do not use a pot that you still want to cook in later. Stainless steel or enamel pots are best. Aluminium pots are not recommended, but will work in an emergency.


Can I also use a Teflon pot?
• Yes, but then only for dyeing!


What is the soluble powder in the sachet made of?
• It is PVAL (polyvinyl alcohol).


Is the dye bath harmless to septic tanks?
• Yes.


What is the safest and most ecological way to dispose of the dye bath?
• Dispose of the dye bath in accordance with local regulations.

How much fabric can one sachet dye?
• One sachet dyes up to 1.3 kg for dark shades. You can also dye larger quantities of fabric with it, but the shade will then get lighter and lighter.

Should I use 2 sachets for darker shades?
• It depends on how much fabric you want to dye and how much water you use. You get darker shades with more heat, less water or more dye.

Will the garments shrink? Why do I have to use hot water?
• Many dyes are a mixture of several colours. Each colour reacts at a different temperature. 82 °C (180 °F) is the optimal dyeing temperature. You therefore need hot water to achieve the best possible colour. If your fabric cannot tolerate high temperatures, use a cold water textile dye such as Jacquard Procion MX.

Do I have to add salt and/or vinegar?
It is not strictly necessary, but highly recommended for maximum colour intensity.
• Salt is for cellulose-based fibres such as cotton, linen, hemp, etc.
• Vinegar is for protein-based fibres such as silk, wool, feathers, etc.

What are the salt/vinegar for?
• Salt or vinegar drives the dye into the fabric.

Can different colours be mixed?
• Yes.

What do I do if I want a lighter shade?
• Use less dye! Dissolve the dye powder in a pot beforehand and use only what you need. You can keep the rest and use it later. You can also cut open the dye sachet and spoon out a small pinch of dye powder. 
• Dyeing at lower temperatures is another way to achieve paler shades.

Should I use iDye Fixative together with iDye Poly?
• No, that is not necessary. The fixative is only used in combination with iDye Natural. It improves wash fastness.

Can I keep the dye bath and use it again later?
• Yes, that is possible, but not recommended. It is very unlikely that you will get the same result with the second dyeing, especially with an iDye colour that consists of a variety of dyes. Each colour in the mixture dyes with a different intensity, so the ratio of the colours remaining in the dye bath changes after the first dyeing. If you still want to dye, and accept possible uneven colouring, remember that you may need to reheat the dye to dissolve the colour again.

How long does the water-dye mixture keep?
• It keeps indefinitely. However, over time the dye powder will settle and the mixture must be heated to dissolve the dye again.

Can I use iDye with an airbrush?
• In principle, yes. However, it is not recommended. Jacquard has a number of products that are better suited for spraying. The Jacquard CVS dyes or Dye-Na-Flow may be suitable for your airbrush work. We are happy to advise you.


How does tie-dye work with iDye Poly on a polyester shirt?
• Use the sublimation method, or apply the dye and steam the shirt at 100 °C. Alternatively, the shirt can be tied and dipped into the boiling dye bath.


Can I paint on fabric with iDye?
• It is possible, but not recommended. Jacquard's fabric paints or a cold water textile dye are better suited for this work.

If I leave the product unopened, how long does it keep?
• It keeps indefinitely.

The colour bleeds. What did I do wrong?
• Maybe you did nothing wrong at all! Some shades, such as the red Crimson, tend to bleed. To avoid this, use the fixative iDye Fixative. The fixative improves the wash fastness of every colour.

My black dyeing turned olive green. What happened?
• Presumably the dye bath was not hot enough. For a black dyeing, the temperature of the dye bath must be at least 82 °C. The dyeing time may also not have been long enough.

Why is the colour on the fabric not the same as on the packet?
• The picture only shows the approximate shade. Different fibres always give slightly different shades. Depending on the fibre, the difference can also be considerable.

After using iDye Poly, a strong chemical smell remained on my garment. How do I get rid of the smell?
• Wash the garment several times in very hot water with a powerful detergent.

What is the best way to get a very light shade on a 100% polyester dress?
• Use only a small portion of the dye powder from the sachet. To do this, you can either dissolve the dye in a container beforehand and use a small amount of it, or cut open the sachet and take out a little powder.

Why does the navy blue iDye for Natural Fibers look purple when mixed with water?
• Our navy blue shade is a very warm, reddish tone. At lower concentration the dyeing turns slightly purple. At high concentration, however, you get a beautiful warm navy blue. The red component in the colour dyes less than the other components. To achieve the warm navy tone, the dye powder must therefore contain more red. Dissolved in water, the colour therefore looks slightly purple. 
• Don't forget that the colour of the dye bath will always differ slightly from the result of your dyeing on the fabric/garment.

I used iDye Color Remover on a pair of store-bought jeans. After 40 minutes on the stove, just below boiling and with constant stirring, the colour of the jeans has not changed!
• Not all colours can be removed. iDye Color Remover removes iDye colours from natural fibres very well. On other fabrics the product will not necessarily work. Do a test first!

I no longer need my stainless steel pots for dyeing. If I wash them thoroughly, can I use them for cooking again?
• No, unfortunately that is not possible. Pots and utensils that have been used for dyeing should no longer be used for food.

How do I prevent iDye colours from staining the rubber parts in the washing machine?
• You can either dissolve the dye powder sachet before putting the dye into the washing machine, or run a hot wash programme with bleach several times after dyeing.

Does iDye for Natural Fabrics also work in front-loading washing machines?
• Yes. Watch this video: https://vimeo.com/jacquardproducts/idye

Can I use iDye Poly in the washing machine?
• Yes, iDye Poly also works in the washing machine. The colour is less intense there than on the stove, and you need more dye (see description). Choose the hottest programme (95 °C).

I dyed a cotton garment with iDye for Natural Fabrics, but all the seams stayed white. What happened?
• The seams on store-bought clothing are often made of polyester. Polyester cannot be dyed with iDye for Natural Fabrics. To dye the seams together with the garment, mix the same colours of iDye Natural and iDye Poly in the dye bath and follow the stove method.

I dyed a synthetic garment with iDye Poly and the buttons were dyed too. Why is that?
• iDye Poly dyes everything made of synthetics, including plastic buttons.

We answer further questions on the topic of 'dyeing' here:

• You will find comprehensive dyeing instructions here: iDye instructions
• Or take a look at our blog post: FAQs about dyeing with Textile Dyes

Manufacturer:
Jacquard Products | Rupert, Gibbon & Spider, Inc.
1147 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
USA
service@jacquardproducts.com

Responsible person in the EU (importer):
ART SELECT GmbH & Co. KG
Schützenstraße 22
21407 Deutsch Evern
Germany
vertrieb@artselect.de