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Rit Dye

If you're just starting to experiment with dyes, you might want to try the less expensive Rit Dyes - you must how ever use the Dharma Fixative - let it soak for at least 1/2 hour in the solution. This really works for containing the bleeding when using commercial dyes. Rit Dye Website: http://www.ritdye.com They also have a page for creating custom colors: http://www.ritdye.com/Create+Custom+Color.9.lasso
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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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Dharma Fixative vs Retayne

The below method for using Retayne, worked good, but there was still some bleeding. So if you use it you might want to try adding more than 1 tablespoon per gal of water used. It worked much better than using nothing. I am going to try the Dharma Fixative next to see if I get better results http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1569-AA.shtml?lnav=chemicals.html I must say I was very pleased with the Dharma Dyes - when wet the cane almost has a pearlized look to it and when dry it has a better *sheen* quality to it. http://www.dharmatrading.com/procion.html Very important when using these dyes you need the Soda Ash to mix with it. http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1683-AA.shtml?lnav=chemicals.html This *fixer* bonds the dye to the natural fiber. These dyes will work with any natural fiber, see their website for lots of info on using them.
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