Fabric Dye

[Sheilajeanne]

Does anyone on the forum have experience with Rit fabric dye?

I am planning to dye some porcupine quills to use on moccasins, and there are 2 types  of Rit - the traditional powdered dye, plus a liquid dye. The liquid is much cheaper and comes in a wider range of colours. 

Not sure which one would be best for bulk dyeing some quills.

https://canada.michaels.com/en/rit-all-purpose-liquid-dye/M20001556.html

https://canada.michaels.com/en/rit-all-purpose-powder-dye/M20001557.html

[chuck123wapati]

i just googled a bit and came up with kool aid as being better for dying quills than rit. I've collected a lot of them but never dyed them.

https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/collecting-washing-and-dying-quills.97638/

Heres alink to rit dying quills Good luck and please post your quill work i love that type of stuff.

http://www.nativetech.org/quill/quillfaq.html

Edited March 2, 2021 by chuck123wapati

[Retswerb]

I’ve used rit for fabric, never tried it for anything else. Always used the liquid as it seemed easier and less mess but if you decide to do the quills I imagine the powder could be made stronger, almost a paste if you really needed it concentrated.

[Sheilajeanne]

Chuck, Kool Aide would certainly be the cheapest, but have been in touch with two people who work with quills, and they say Rit is the way to go!

One uses the powder, one the liquid, so may buy some of each, and see which works best.

This is going to be a learning experience for sure!

[Rahere]

Anyone tried dissolving the powder in the liquid?

[Sheilajeanne]

Rahere, the powder has to be dissolved in water, and the quills have to be simmered over low heat for about 15 minutes to help them absorb it. 

[fredk]

If its anything like the UK's Dylon dye, the liquid form is just a pre-mixed version of the powder, for convenience

[Rahere]

21 hours ago, fredk said:

If its anything like the UK's Dylon dye, the liquid form is just a pre-mixed version of the powder, for convenience

And that's the thought behind my question, because a heated liquid can take up more dye, becoming super-saturated. Chemistry studies nearly 60 years ago...

[fredk]

Last time I used Dylon, with the powder, you mixed it into a cupful of almost hot water, when that cooled you mixed it into 1 gallon of warm water. With the liquid pots you mixed one into 1/2 gallon of warm water. End colour was just the same. Adding more dye into the water didn't alter the end colour depth, it just dyed quicker.

[Wild Bill46]

Coincendentally, We've Recently, somewhat researched  (RIT DYE)

  It seems there are not only (Liquid and Powde), but you'll need to be even more observant , As weve found there are also           All Purpose and Synthitic, in at least the Liquid form. and as it seems array of color are abit hard to find. 

Sheilajeanne's link to a color chart is the only place we 've found for different colors. Hope this furthers your inquaries !