Welcome

Welcome to the Dye pages for Cherokee Basketweaving. Some instructions on using the Dharma Dyes might be of help.

So this is how I've used the dyes.

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Where to find these dyes

All you need for dying cane is found here. Dharma Trading Co. has a web site at: Dharma Trading Co. Their instructions for Wood and Cane: Instructions Another required ingredient with these dyes: Soda Ash Fixer To help with color bleeding, used after dying the cane: Dharma Dye Fixative
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Using Retayne as a fixative

After letting the cane dry overnight I used Retayne, since I had this on hand, as a fixative to reduce the amount of bleeding when weaving. Instructions for Retayne: 1. Again use your kettle that will hold at least 1 gal of water so you can submerge your cane in it. 2. Dissolve the Retayne in a bowl of 140 degree water, I used very hot tap water, which worked. If the Retayne clumps your water isn't hot enough and requires heating it until the Retayne dissolves. 3. I used 1 tablespoon of Retayne for 1 gal of water. 4. After adding the Retayne to the water, add the cane. Leave the cane in the mixture for 20 minutes. Again I turned the cane after 10 minutes and agitated the cane up and down to make sure all surface areas were covered by the solution. 5. After 20 minutes remove the cane and again rinse in cool water. I have found using the water hose outside for rinsing is very effective in removing excess dye and Retayne. 6. Let the cane dry over night again before weaving. When I dye
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The Dyes

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This is the results from the Dharma Dyes. I have use: 1. Rust Orange - which gives me the red/orange in the center; 2. Chocolate Brown - which gives me the rich dark brown, which looks almost black in the photo; and 3. Ecru - which gives me the look of a natural cane on bleached Hamburg cane.
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