It all started when I got into hand-dying with Procion dyes. After throwing in yardage there was always a little dye bath leftover. I found myself looking around desperately for some other small item to throw in there, after all, dye can be expensive. I wanted to get my money's worth. As I was surrounded by dirty laundry most of the time, I threw in whatever I could find. Sadly, Steve didn't appreciate the fuchsia jockey shorts and purple socks, so I've been sticking to dying my own underwear, and those of selected close friends. A while back I found some new dye, actually fabric paint, called Setacolor. It's wonderful, and nothing like dipping your panties in semi-gloss. (And I know that feeling, believe me, having fallen butt-first into a paint tray.) No, when you're all done, it feels just like any other fabric. You'd never know your underwear was hand-dyed, er, hand-painted, except that Carters never looked so good. The colors are wonderful and they hold up over many washings. Makes it fun to get dressed in the morning, and I feel happy all day long. Here's how you do it: 1. Remove jewelry or wear rubber gloves. (Setacolor is water soluble and won't stain the jewelry, except maybe pearls, but it goes for the soap scum like there's no tomorrow. Don’t take a chance. It also goes under your fingernails and around your cuticles, but comes out after you wash your hair a few times.) Cover countertops and floor with newspaper. Drips on most slick surfaces will wipe right off as long as you remember to do it when the Setacolor is still wet. Stay away from carpeting, unless this was the excuse you were looking for to get new stuff. And avoid grout. Remove pets, especially light colored curious dogs. If this isn't obvious to you, don't bother reading on. This isn't your thing. 2. Procure a clear plastic container, like a dishpan or a salad bowl that will never again be used for food preparation or display. Freshly dyed, dripping underpants need a place to air dry. Plastic clothesline (that can be wiped off after), tree limbs, nails in basement rafters, and old hangers you were going to pitch anyway all work. Find them BEFORE continuing to step #3. 3. Pour some dye in, add some tap water (half-and-half) is a good ratio, mix well, and throw in a pair of underpants. (They can be sopping wet, recently wet and wrung, damp, or dry. The more moisture the better the coverage, but the lighter the color.) Mush, squeeze, blot, dabble, paint, or twist….whatever you like. Experiemnt. Colors can be mixed, just like watercolor paint. Each 1.5 fluid ounce bottle will dye about 6 pair of underpants, depending on size, fiber content, dye coverage, position of the planets, and your zodiac sign. While Setacolor works on cotton, polyester, and other fibers (some better, some worse) elastic seems to be impervious to its charms. Some threads (maybe with elastic?) won't take the color either. 4. Hang whatever you've painted to dry. Note: light makes the paint react. Therefore folds, creases, lumps, and stretch marks will create a pattern on the cloth. Way cool. For more pattern, increase the light and/or manipulate the fabric (into pleats, twists, etc) as the paint dries. Yes, now you have every right to get your knickers in a twist! Bright sunlight makes it go crazy! Experiment! 5. After your undies are bone dry. Throw them in the dryer for 10 minutes on the hottest temperature the fiber can tolerate, or iron them. Then, wait 48 hours and machine wash and dry them. It might be helpful to wash like colors together, but I usually forget. Unlike other dyes, Setacolor won't bleed, run, crack, or crock….in the wash or on you. 6. Send me a picture of your underpants (without you in them, please) to AmiSimms@aol.com. Note: whatever you send is fair game for the web page. |