Rinsing red, white & blue.....

[2D4]

So, I've been in rinsing red, white and blue tees like I do every year at this time
and I thought of you guys. Do you have any special techniques you use to keep the white,
white? Or special tips when you're dyeing red, white and blue?

Jo

[tiedyejudy]

Hi, Jo.  Last year I dyed several red, white and blue shirts for my boss's family.  As I recall, the best advice I have been given was to rinse in cold water with a few drops of synthrapol, followed by laundering in hot water and synthrapol.  Prior to that, I think I did my pre-wash with just cold water.  Somehow, adding synthrapol to the pre-rinse helped to prevent back bleeding onto the white.  Here's one of the finished shirts:

Oh, yeah... I also remember that with these shirts, I was applying thickened dyes, and I think I let them dry completely before laundering.  That might have contributed to the lack of bleeding as well.
Judy

[2D4]

Hi Judy,

Thanks for the info....don't know how I missed your
reply. I'll try your technique the next time I deal with RW&B.

Here's a pic of this years 4th shirt.

Thanks again,
Jo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2dye4/3695341224/

[ecilA]

Here's a pic of this years 4th shirt.

Thanks again,
Jo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2dye4/3695341224/

hey, nice approach, love it!

[fiberartist219]

It's awesome!

[tiedyejudy]

Nice work, Jo!  I did another one for this year, and it's my fave so far:

The dyes faded a bit (used up some old stuff) but it was for me, so it's all  good...

[2D4]

Nice Judy! I love the variation.

Jo

[HippieMomOf5]

Wow!  How did you do that Judy!?  I love it!!

[tiedyejudy]

This was a real bear to do, Kimberly.  I used freezer paper to resist the dye, then applied thickened dye with a foam roller, then let the shirt dry.  But I had some  problems with the dye bleeding, so I had to go back and forth with thickened dye, then used dishwashing gel with bleach to discharge areas where the dye had bled.  I did 4 of these, I think, and I will never do it again!  That's why I came up with the alternate pattern in more recent years!