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Care & Feeding of Hand-Dyed Fabric
(also known as Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the measurements of the fabric pieces?
Fat 1/8 = 13 x 18 inches
Fat 1/4 = 18 x 26 inches
Fat 1/2 = 26 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, Jazlyn) All the base fabric
is from Zweigart.
What do the names Cashel, Belfat, 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.
Do all of the colors some 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
shipping back to us 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 one a year. They are “debuted” in February at our 1st Trade
show of the year. At the present time we have 71 colors and looks like we will be adding
10 more in February 2008.
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 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 is recommended to rinse your piece in cold water and to 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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