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Care & Feeding of Hand-Dyed
Fabric
(also
known as Frequently Asked Questions)
Only
quality fabrics from Zweigart and textile industry dyes are used. The
combination produces a soft, washable, colorfast, and permanent product.
The photos of our fabrics shown in our web site and our on line store
are of linen.
Variations – sometimes very wide variations – occur between the fabric
types. A color in linen may or may not look the same in lugana or aida.
Keep in mind that each swatch is a very small piece of the whole fabric
and is designed to give you an idea of the color and pattern. With any
hand-dyed product, variations in color intensities and patterns will
occur with each dye lot. If you are planning to stitch companion pieces
we recommend purchasing all fabric at the same time. All pieces
are pressed, serged, labeled and packaged.
What are the measurements of the fabric pieces?
Fat 1/8 = 13 x 18 inches
Fat 1/4 = 18 x 27 inches
Fat 1/2 = 27 x 36 inches
1 YD = 36 x 54 inches
Measurements are pre-dyeing. They do shrink a little in the
process!!
Why cut fat?
Cutting fat gives a more useable fabric piece. A regular 1/4 would be 9
x 54 inches.
What are the different fabric types you dye?
There is some difference of opinion over this answer, but for us there
are 3 basic fabric types that we dye: Aida, Linen, and Evenweave (lugana,
Jubilee) All the base fabric is from Zweigart.
What do the names Cashel, Belfast, Newcastle, etc. mean?
These are the names given to different thread counts of linen. Cork is
18 count, Dublin 25ct, Cashel 28ct, Belfast 32ct, Edinburgh 36ct,
Newcastle 40ct.
Why do the different fabric types dye differently?
Basic Dyeing 101 - different fabric contents will take the dye
differently - sometimes very differently. Aidas are woven from cotton
threads, Linens are made from linen thread, and the Evenweaves that we
use are a combination of rayon and cotton.
What are “Crystals”?
This is what we call the fabric that has an opalescent thread woven into
it. It gives the fabric sparkle. Sometimes on the dark colors (Mystic)
the sparkle can overwhelm you.
Do all of the colors come in “Crystals”?
Yes. As long as we can get the base fabric in opalescent.
Do you custom cut to size?
No
Do you send swatches?
No
What if I don’t like the fabric I receive?
Give us a call and we’ll exchange it for something else. We don’t want
anyone to keep a piece of our fabric that - for whatever reason - you’ll
never use! This exchange needs to take place within a week after you
receive your purchase. You will be responsible for the return shipping
and we will have to charge you shipping on the new piece coming.
Do you have minimums?
No minimums for either individuals or for shops ordering from us. We try
to make our fabrics available to anyone who wants them!
How much is shipping?
We have a minimum shipping charge of $2.00. That will usually cover
about a 1/4 yard (at least until the Post Office raises their rates
again!!). After that we charge as close to the actual PO or UPS charge
as possible.
How often do you make new colors?
We introduce new colors once or twice a year. At the present time
we have 114 colors.
Do you dye “custom” colors?
No
Do you ever discontinue colors?
No. There are some colors that we dye every week and a few that only
are dyed once a month or so. But we are always able to dye any of our
colors.
Are your fabrics washable?
Yes! We use our washing machine and hot water to wash the fabrics before
they’re dyed and then again after the dyeing process. They are as
washable as they can be!
Are your dyed fabrics colorfast?
Yes. We use chemicals to bind the dye to the fibers and to stop the
dyeing reaction. Then we wash the fabrics with a special detergent that
removes loose dye. The brightest and darkest colors (such as Phoenix
and Mystic) are washed twice to try and get out all the unbound dye.
That being said if you are someone who always washes your project when
you are finished stitching remember the threads are not colorfast and
there could be loose dye in the fabric. It's recommended to rinse your
piece in cold water and not let it soak.
How long will it take to receive my order?
We sometimes get orders out the very next day. Sometimes it takes
several days. It depends on several factors - what’s ordered, how much
is ordered, show schedules, what we have in stock (which changes all the
time) at the moment. So we usually tell anyone ordering to allow up to 2
weeks. If your order arrives sooner than that - HURRAH!!!!
How did you get started doing this?
We had a Cross Stitch shop and saw hand-dyed fabrics here and there. We
loved the way they looked, but couldn’t find a reliable source. So -
strong-willed, stubborn people that we are - we went to our local
University (Kansas State -Rah!) and cornered 4 Professors
in the Textile Department. They pointed us in a couple of directions
(they might have just been trying to get rid of us) and there we went!!
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Where
"dyeing" is an art!
