Good score!

hahahaha! I'm putting you in charge of my marketing taglines. You made my day! :)

Oh my goodness, thanks for the nice words! Hope you're doing great!

Oh my goodness, thank you for your sweet comments. I really appreciate that. You have a great day! Nancy

Oh that's wonderful, Mary Jane! I'd love to see a photo of your finished results. Have fun!

haha! I keep myself entertained. :)

Oh, fantastic. Thanks for the kind words! Nancy

Ha! I never thought of it that way. Could be some creepy cool art possibilities there... :)

Hey thanks, Joe-Anna!

It's so much fun! :)

Yay! What a lovely idea. Have fun!

Hi there - Thanks for the nice message and the interesting tip! Is the sifter you're using the sort of gadget that might ordinarily be used in the kitchen? Do you have several on hand, or just wash and dry them between colors? Nancy

@@NancyGamon You can get very FINE mesh small ones on Amazon. I plan to for this and pour over coffee 😊🌺

Awesome! Can't wait to see your results!

Big warm smiles to you! Have a great day!

Haha - thanks, Michelle! So fun meeting you. :)

Hey thanks, Layla!

Hooray! Those sound like lovely projects that will bring a spot of colorful cheer to the home. Have fun!

hola y gracias! :)

Thank you, Shelly!

Hahaha! Thanks for watching! :)

Hooray! Thanks for your nice message, R&R. Enjoy your experimenting, and keep in touch! Nancy

Yes!! Great idea. I've had lovely results on 100% cotton button-down shirts & lightweight jackets. Have fun! :) Nancy

Hey thanks!

Thanks for your kind words!

@@NancyGamon you're welcome but really it's a great tutorial!

I appreciate your kind message, Cate. I hope you're having lots of creative fun! Thanks for watching. :) Nancy

Haha! Sounds like a good time. :)

@@NancyGamon I'd love to come play in your studio!!! I'm right here in Reading!!

Woohoo! You should totally sign up for my e-mail newsletter. I have some dyeing workshops coming up soon. Here's a link: www.tinyurl.com/NancyGamonNews

Thanks, HandyHenry! Have a great day. :) Nancy

Oooohh! Nice idea!

Wonderful! Have fun! :)

Awww! Thanks so much for your nice note, Eloise! :)

que te diviertas!

Thank you!

@@NancyGamon your very welcome

What a neat idea!

You are kindness!

Thanks, David!

I appreciate your kindness

You're so right. Thanks for watching!

Hey thanks! Have a great day. :) Nancy

hooray!

haha! Thanks for watching! :)

Haha! Thanks for the kind word and your support. I appreciate that!

obrigada!

Oh, thank you, Catherine! I hope you have loads of fun! :) Nancy

Thank you for your kindness, Amy!

Hey thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

Hello dear ear! Thanks for the nice words. Wishing you good times in space. Nancy

Whee! Have fun!

Awesome. That's fantastic news! So happy you're having fun. :)

Thanks for watching, Maria. :)

:) Ah, that's wonderful. Thank you, Auntie Yaya! I appreciate your support. Nancy

Thanks for watching, Marshall! Have fun experimenting. :)

Ha! And here I was, being extra careful to speak slowly and clearly. Thank goodness for playback options! Thanks for watching. :) Nancy

Hi Rhonnie, People have sent me lovely photos of pieces they've created using this same fold and liquid dye. The effect is a bit different because the colors are more solid, but it's still recognizable as a flower. Nancy

I love that feeling of happy anticipation. Can't wait to hear about the results!

Thanks for your kind words!

Gracias! Una camiseta fibre naturale: si... tintes liquidos: no

Ah! You are right: after the final rinse, the fabric can either be hung to dry or tossed into the clothes dryer. In either case, once it's dry, the fabric may look a bit dull. Giving it a quick spritz with water and a good pressing with a hot iron is like magic. It will brighten the color, bring out all the little whispers of color, and make the fabric look quite pretty. Thanks for the question!

Hey, fantastic! Hope you're having lots of fun. :)

@@NancyGamon ,it's really helped me with my depression! I'm having a great time and learning stuff.

hi Stephanie, I'm so happy to hear that you're experiencing the mood boosting effects of fabric dyeing. I have noticed the same thing. There's wonderful anticipation, and a reason to keep going and get out of bed the next day. The fact that the results are always a surprise (and very rarely bad) is a nice plus! Take care, Nancy

A tablecloth covered with colorful dyed flowers sounds absolutely gorgeous! When working with large pieces of fabric, it can be easy to get turned around and lose my way. Before soaking in soda ash, I find it helpful to use safety pins to mark the dry fabric with the spots where I want the centers of the main or largest blooms to be. When it's time to create the design... after those blooms are folded and clamped, I add in mini bloom folds wherever they'll happen to fit. You might like to also consider half-blooms that spill off the edges, depending on the look you're after.

Hi Caroline, That's a good question and I appreciate hearing your experience. If the dyed fabric is never going to be washed (because it's going in an art piece, or on a greeting card, for example) I often skip the Retayne. However, if there is any chance of it being laundered in the future, I always use fixative. (Most of my fabrics are sold to others, and since I don't know how the end user will care for them, I like the insurance of having the Retayne in there.) If an item is likely to be washed frequently (like bed pillowcases or kitchen dishtowels) I use an extra hearty sploosh of fixative. Nancy

@@NancyGamon thanks for taking the time to answer my question! ❤ I will get some retayne and try it on my next batch.

Thanks, L.P.! This piece of fabric is patiently waiting for a divine purpose.

A kindred spirit!

You can definitely use the same fold and application with liquid dye. The bloom design will be similar, but the color results will be more solid. I have ice dyed a number of small blooms onto large yardage and the results are lovely. Good luck with your project!

Hi Safirah, thanks for your nice message! I purchase my dye from Dharma Trading Company www.dharmatrading.com/ but PRO Chemical & Dye prochemicalanddye.net/ is another popular online shopping choice. Have fun! Nancy

Hi Kate, Thanks for your questions! Since some of the powdered dye does not turn to liquid overnight, the little undissolved clumps of dye can sometimes leave spots on the fabric. The protective cloth catches those clumps and helps prevent spots from appearing on your finished project. Some people like the spots. Some people seem to not experience them. It's a totally optional step depending on your own experience and preference. Ice dyeing can be done on a rack, in the grass, on a board, or in a container (metal, glass, plastic) with or without holes in the bottom. (And done a bunch of other ways, too! People have a wide variety of favorite setups.) Approaches do yield different results. You might like to take in this video regarding rack (flow through) versus muck (solid bottom container) dyeing for a comparison on these setups: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bLqZn6V13Z7TgmQ.html Keep on experimenting, asking questions, and having fun! Nancy

Hi Alex, that's a good question with several possible answers. Would you tell me a little bit more about what's going on? When are you noticing fading? Nancy

@@NancyGamon Hi Nancy,i think there is no dye fixative that is why after dying the colours fade..i tried doing home made ,,on some materials the dye fix in well ..your advice please ,,thank you

Ah! Yes, it sounds like you have identified the issue. Retayne dye fixative is available online, and also sometimes in local fabric stores (particularly the small independent ones that cater to quilters). I have had very good experience with it. Good luck!

Yes! Absolutely.

Oh, perfect. Thanks for your note! Have fun. :)

Thanks for watching!

That's a great question! The protective covering is completely optional. Some people prefer the little dye spots. Others don't seem to experience them. Try both ways and see what you like best. Thanks for watching! Nancy

Thank you so much! Since you don't have sound, I want to make sure you know that the project sits overnight (22 hours works best). As the ice melts, most of the powdered dye turns to liquid, allowing little tendrils of color melt into the fabric. Some of the dye doesn't completely dissolve, though, and those small damp clumps often leave spots of color where they rest. Putting a layer of fabric (either a makeup remover towelette or a lightweight scrap) over the project protects it from speckling. Good luck! I'd love to see your results. Nancy

Hi Paula! The 22-24 hour wait time is recommended for the dye to become permanent. If the fabric is rinsed after only a few hours, there is a risk of significant color loss. Regarding the sunburst effect... the lines between the petals are formed by the background color (the greens in my video sample) running down the underside of the folded fabric triangle. I also have experienced those lines not showing up, and was able to correct that by making sure that there was good ice and dye coverage right at the point where the petal color meets the background color. Make sure that area is evenly covered with ice cubes so that there is plenty of liquid green to melt down and run under the edge of the folded petals. Then sprinkle the green dye right up tightly to the petal color dye, with no blank gaps between the two colors. If you are able to slightly prop up the edge of the pan that has the background, so that the dye runs towards the petals, that may help encourage the color to run underneath and in the desired direction as well. Does that make sense? You're welcome to use the contact form on my website to email me: nancygamon.com/Contact.html If I see a picture of your results, that might help me create a better answer for you. Thanks for the message! Nancy

I would love to turn the flower into a Sunburst on the front of the shirt

great idea, Dog Lady!

Thanks for watching! :)

Hi boola, I typically use Retayne dye fixative, but sometimes I get the generic equivalent put out by Dharma Trading Company. www.dharmatrading.com/ Nancy

Hi Dog Lady, Here's a little video about dyeing a blooming on the front of a T-shirt: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h7SbltVqnc-bd40.html Because T-shirt fabric is bulkier, the results weren't as stunning as I had hoped. Perhaps you can improve on the process! Nancy

Hi Jeanie, That's a really good question! The solution is created by dissolving 1 cup soda ash in 1 gallon of warm water. Soda ash is 100% sodium carbonate (that's something different from baking soda, which is sodium bicarbonate). It is sometimes used to balance the pH level in swimming pools. It can be purchased online from companies selling dye supplies, or locally from a swimming pool supply store. Wear a dust mask while creating the solution to avoid inhalation of powdered soda ash. Nancy

And there is a specific video on "how to mix Soda Ash" that was just published yesterday by a Tie Dye Artist, search for it.

@@babygirlb3kah 1cup per gallon of water is used by many.

Hi - it looks to me like it creates a finished total of 16 petals.

Hi Nesha, Sure! These items are available at a variety of places online (and at some local fabric stores). Here is one shopping option for textile detergent: www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/dharma-professional-textile-detergent.html and one for dye fixative: www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/dharma-dye-fixative.html Another popular resource is PRO Chemical & Dye prochemicalanddye.net/auxiliaries-mediums/synthrapol-retayne.html/ Does that answer your question? Nancy

@@NancyGamon yes thanks very much!

Hi Rafif, Here is a video about how to make the bloom on the front of a tshirt: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h7SbltVqnc-bd40.html And here is another video about how to make two different colored blooms - one on the front of a tshirt and one on back. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m9aZnLqLyt7DhYU.html Enjoy! Nancy

Hahahaha! Maybe I need to create a sister channel... "Dancing with Nancy"... :)

Love your work... Breaks are awesome!

Hi Catharina, That's a valid question. The Procion fiber reactive dye is designed for use on 100% plant fibers. (There are dyes designed for use on animal fibers, but I haven't tried those myself.) That said, I have used the Procion on wool, with mixed results. Sometimes the color takes, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes one side of the fabric has strong color while the other side is more muted. In any event, because of the thick texture and general nature of wool fabric, when it is ice dyed, it does not develop the subtle little whispers of detail that are visible on tightly woven plant fiber fabric. The results are a bit flatter, maybe more watercolor-like, if that makes sense. You certainly can fold up the wool fabric as indicated in the video and give the process a try. You may end up with a softly colored (sort of stained or implied) bloom instead of a vibrant one. Or - everything could be just fine. Who knows?! If you're open to experimentation, give it a whirl. I'd love to hear how it turns out. Nancy

Thank you for your kind reply. I'll try various ways as you told me. Let's share the results.Bye Catharina

Absolutely! I do try to make careful mention of mask wearing in all of my ice dyeing videos. My sincere apologies if I neglected to mention that safety precaution in this particular demonstration. Thanks for the note! Nancy

Ooooh... good question! Since t-shirt fabric is a bit bulkier, I'd recommend a first experiment of just a single bloom on either the front or the back. That will let you get the hang of the process, and then you can decide where you'd like to go from there. To start, fold the shirt so that the side seams are matching. The hem is towards you, the center back is to your left, the side seams are running down the middle, the center front is to the right. Let's say the bloom is on the front. That center front fold is the first step in the process. Lift the hem to fold the t-shirt in half. That's the second fold in the process. The lower right corner - where those two folds meet - is the center of the bloom. Fold triangles and arrange from there. Season 2 begins Sept 4, 2019. I'll have the first video be a demonstration of this process so it will be more clear. Thanks for asking! Hope you enjoy the experimenting. Nancy

Nancy Gamon thank you for the reply! I’ll definitely wait to see the demonstration since I’m more visually educated. Thank you so much

Hi James - Here's a link to the Blooming T-shirt video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h7SbltVqnc-bd40.html I hope this answers your question. Enjoy! Nancy

Hi Richard, here are a couple of options for dyeing blooms on T-shirts: This video shows how to make a bloom just on the front: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h7SbltVqnc-bd40.html This video shows how to make two different blooms on the front and back: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m9aZnLqLyt7DhYU.html Have fun! Nancy

@@NancyGamon hi Nancy, i am French no understand English Could you explain to me what is the solution that you put before dyeing your t-shirts? is it soda lye? thanks Nancy cordially Richard

soda ash = sodium carbonate 250 ml soda ash + 3 litres d'eau = soda ash solution www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/soda-ash-fixer.html

@@NancyGamon hello Nancy , merci beaucoup pour la solution , good day

Ooohhh... great idea!

Oh, dear! I spot checked the sound and didn't find any wonky areas. Would you tell me more about what you're experiencing? Thanks for letting me know! Nancy

Hi there! This is a very valid question, and it sent me back to the product website to make sure I had understood the directions properly. Here's the information from the Dharma Trading Company website: "To increase washfastness, resistance to perspiration and seawater in multicolored items like tie-dyes, batiks, etc, you do have to wash out the excess dye first, with your normal rinsing and HOT water wash with Synthrapol detergent [or generically, textile detergent - NG], which keeps the colors from staining each other and/or the white areas. After this, just add 1 oz. of Dharma Dye Fixative [or brand name Retayne - NG] per lb. of fabric to new COOL water rinse, soak for 15 minutes, then rinse and dry." Hope this helps! Thanks for asking. :) Nancy P.S. I have done the Retayne step using cold, warm and hot water, and really haven't noticed a difference between those three temperatures.

@@NancyGamon THANKS!

You bet. I appreciate questions - they keep me learning! :)

That's a great question, Linda. I wear gloves because the fabric I'm using has been soaked in a soda ash solution. It's my understanding that soda ash is more harmful in solid form (you don't want to be inhaling it) or in very concentrated solutions. However, because I do a LOT of dyeing, I'd rather be safe than sorry, and always wear gloves when handling fabric that has been treated with soda ash. I hope that helps! Nancy

Hm. You might try checking the speaker settings on your device.

haha! Maybe I need a makeover...? :)

No no it just scared me when you popped out of nowhere 😂

I thought it would just be the words

Haha - yes, those darned gloves. They annoyed me, too! Thankfully I have since nabbed a better fitting pair. Thanks for watching! Nancy

Hi David! This is an interesting topic. While it's true that some folks feel comfortable using their bare hands to manipulate fabric that's been soaking in soda ash solution, I prefer to follow the recommended safety procedures and glove up. When I'm teaching, I feel responsible for the well being of my students, and encourage them to wear gloves when handling soda ash as well. Naturally, each person gets to make their own decisions about their personal health when dyeing fabric. Since I dye frequently, and I feel uncertain about the possible long term ramifications of being exposed to these chemicals, I prefer to play it safe. Thanks for watching! Nancy

@@NancyGamon Thank you for your reply...I did not realize there was a danger using soda ash, I used to make ceramic slip for my ceramic shop, the liquid that is poured into ceramic molds to make greenware, and in making the slip there is a fair amount of soda ash that goes into making the liquid slip. How you test if you have the formula right is dip your bare hand and arm into the liquid slip and then hold your hand and arm above the liquid and count the drips for the correct consistency for the right formula for the liquid slip. So I guess I was really playing with fire doing this with a bare hand and arm???

Wow, that is interesting. Thanks for writing back! The safe use of art materials is an interesting topic. I'm picking up a copy of "The Artist's Complete Health & Safety Guide" by Monona Rossol to better educate myself. In the meantime, I found this link to soda ash safety tips: www.msdsonline.com/2015/06/17/sodium-carbonate-safety-tips/ To the best of my understanding, inhalation is the greatest concern/danger. I do wear a dust mask when mixing soda ash solution, or when cleaning dried solution off of work surfaces. Nancy

Soda ash & SA soaked fabric will eat up your cuticles to say the least.

People have a range of opinions about the safety of soda ash solution and soda ash soaked fabric. I feel safest wearing gloves. You, of course, may do as you like! :)

Thanks for letting me know, Ann. Would you please tell me more? What is it you're seeing that seems off?

Hi Cheryl, Oh, how interesting. Thank you for telling me about this. I will keep a more observant ear on leveling out the sound in the future. In the meantime, clicking the "cc" button in the lower right hand corner of videos might be useful - it should overlay computer generated captions at the bottom of the screen. Thanks for watching! Nancy