Custom Color Recipesfor dyeing lampshade trims

TIPS FOR DYEING LAMPSHADE TRIMS by Hannah Murphy

When dyeing small quantities of trim for your lampshade projects, it is not necessary to use the whole quantities shown below, but keep the same ratios.  i.e., Amethyst:  One Tablespoon Purple mixed with Half Tablespoon Wine.   Using  a small enamel-ware or stainless steel pan (not used for cooking) use enough water to submerge your trim without being crowded.  

There are a lot of variables to successful dyeing, such as amount of water, amount of powder dye, amount of fabric, length of time you leave items in the dye water, and fabric content.  Rarely will all your trims come out the same even when using the same quantities of powder dye and water.  The fiber content of the material you're dyeing will affect the outcome.  For instance, if you expect to have everything end up the same color,  all your trims must have the same fiber content (100% silk, rayon, or cotton).  Avoid using 100% Polyester or Acetate trims.  They will not absorb the dye color.

Always test-dye a small sample first.  When it is wet, the color will always appear darker.  Hanging chainette fringe and Braid to dry on a drying rack, or from skirt hangers keeps it from fraying and getting "ragged" from flopping around in a clothes dryer.    Leave the bottom thread in chainette fringe while dyeing.  Cut just above the thread after your project is completed.  You'll find the fringe is easier to maneuver while applying it to your lampshade, and it gets rid of any uneven ravels.  

Ombre (variegated color) Fringe.   Create beautiful graduated colors, from dark at the bottom, to light at the top.  Example:  very light dusty pink at the top, gradually blending downward to burgundy or wine.  This takes time, but is well worth the effort.  Wrap your fringe around a glass jar or bottle, (a fruit jar works well), holding the fringe in place with a strong clip or safety pin.   Always start with dye powder the lightest color first, submerging the jar until the dye reaches as high as you want the color.   Each color will "wick" up a little, blending in with the color above it, as you twirl the jar gently to reach all the layers wrapped around the jar.   Remove the jar from the water, and set it on a pie plate or deep dish.

Add a little darker color powder dye and dissolve it completely.  Place the jar into the dye water again, but this time, hold it about an inch higher than you did the first time.   Don't cover up the part you just dyed with the light color.  Repeat this process as many times as you want, until you reach the desired effect.   Each time you'll see the bottom edge of your fringe getting gradually darker, and the colors above will stay lighter toward the top.   After the final dye bath, take the jar to the sink and rinse it with cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess dye.  Unwrap the fringe from the jar, and gently squeeze out the excess water.   Roll it up in an old towel to remove as much moisture as possible, then hang it to dry completely on skirt hangers, drying rack, or clothes line outdoors for faster drying.

Experiment, and have fun!

Favorite Color Recipes
With RitŪ Dye, the color possibilities are endless! It's easy to create just the color you want by combining several RitŪ colors. Scroll down to see "color recipes" for some of the most requested colors.

Each RitŪ color recipe is formulated to dye 1 pound dry weight of material in 3 gallons of water at 140oF (60oC) for 30 minutes.  

Rit Measurements:

    1 pkg. powder dye = 2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons = 1 1/8 oz. = 31.9 grams
    1 bottle liquid = 8 ounces = 16 tablespoons = 236 ml. = 2 packages powder

    5 gallons of liquid bulk = 11.3 lbs. powder

    For larger quantities use multiples of the given recipe. Calculate amount of dye needed based on dry weight of goods.

To successfully combine the colors as listed in the recipes:

    RitŪ Powder Dye: Mix dye with 2 cups hot water, stirring until thoroughly dissolved. Add this concentrated solution by stirring into the dyebath water.
     
    RitŪ Liquid Dye: Stir thoroughly to mix well (shake if using an 8 oz. bottle) before adding by additional stirring into the dyebath water.
     
    Stir thoroughly to mix well RitŪ LIQUID dye (shake if using an 8 oz. bottle) before adding by additional stirring into the dyebath water.

Reminder: It is advisable to dry weigh and test the color on your material before dyeing the entire batch.  

Colors below may appear differently depending on your Monitor
 

RitŪ CUSTOM COLOR RECIPES
POWDER LIQUID
amethyst
AMETHYST
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Purple
1 Tbsp Wine
1/2 cup Purple
1/4 cup Wine
apricot
APRICOT
1 Tbsp Rose Pink
1 tsp Tangerine
1/4 cup Rose Pink
1 Tbsp Tangerine
aqua
AQUA
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Royal Blue
1 Tbsp Kelly Green
1/2 cup Royal Blue
1/4 cup Kelly Green
aquamarine
AQUAMARINE
1 Tbsp Mint Green
1-1/2 tsp Teal
avacado
AVOCADO
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Dark Green
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Golden Yellow
banana
BANANA
1 tsp Yellow 2 Tbsp Yellow
beige
BEIGE
1 Tbsp Tan
1 tsp Yellow
1/4 cup Tan
1 Tbsp Yellow
bittersweet
BITTERSWEET
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Golden Yellow
1 Tbsp Scarlet
blue spruce
BLUE SPRUCE
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Royal Blue
1 Tbsp Dark Green
1/2 cup Royal Blue
1/4 cup Dark Green
blue turquoise
BLUE TURQUOISE
1 Tbsp Evening Blue
1/2 tsp Kelly Green
1/4 cup Evening Blue
1 Tbsp Kelly Green
bone
BONE
1/2 tsp Tan
1/2 tsp Pearl Grey
bright navy
BRIGHT NAVY
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Royal Blue
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Navy Blue
1/2 cup Royal Blue
1/2 cup Navy Blue
burgundy
BURGUNDY
4 Tbsp (2 pkgs) Wine
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Dark Brown
1 cup Wine
1/2 cup Dark Brown
burnt orange
BURNT ORANGE
1 Tbsp Tangerine
1 Tbsp Tan
1/4 cup Tangerine
1/4 cup Tan
camel
CAMEL
1 Tbsp Yellow
1/4 tsp Cocoa Brown
1/4 cup Yellow
3/4 tsp Cocoa Brown
caramel
CARAMEL
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Golden Yellow
1-1/2 tsp Cocoa Brown
celery
CELERY
1 tsp Yellow
1/4 tsp Kelly Green
1 Tbsp Yellow
1/2 tsp Kelly Green
champagne
CHAMPAGNE
2 tsp Tan
1/4 tsp Yellow
2 Tbsp Tan
3/4 tsp Yellow
charcoal grey
CHARCOAL GREY
1-1/2 tsp Royal Blue
1-1/2 tsp Black
2 Tbsp Royal Blue
2 Tbsp Black
Chartreuse
CHARTREUSE
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Yellow
1 tsp Kelly Green
1/2 cup Yellow
1 Tbsp Kelly Green
cherry red
CHERRY RED
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Fuchsia
1 Tbsp Scarlet
1/2 cup Fuchsia
1/4 cup Scarlet
chestnut brown
CHESTNUT BROWN
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Cocoa Brown
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Tangerine
1 cup Cocoa Brown
1 cup Tangerine
coral
CORAL
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Rose Pink
2 tsp Tangerine
1/2 cup Rose Pink
2 Tbsp Tangerine
cranberry red
CRANBERRY RED
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Scarlet
1 Tbsp Wine
1/2 cup Scarlet
1/4 cup Wine
cream
CREAM
1 tsp Yellow
1/2 tsp Tan
1 Tbsp Yellow
1 tsp Tan
dark denim
DARK DENIM
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Navy Blue
1 Tbsp Black
1 cup Navy Blue
1/4 cup Black
dusty rose
DUSTY ROSE
1 Tbsp Mauve
1 tsp Tan
1/4 cup Mauve
1 Tbsp Tan
eggshell
EGGSHELL
1 tsp Tan
1 tsp Yellow
1 Tbsp Tan
1 Tbsp Yellow
flesh
FLESH
1 tsp Tan
1 tsp Peach
1 Tbsp Tan
1 Tbsp Peach
forest green
FOREST GREEN
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Dark Green
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Yellow
1 cup Dark Green
1/2 cup Yellow
gold
GOLD
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Golden Yellow
1-1/2 tsp Tan
grape
GRAPE
1 Tbsp Wine
1 Tbsp Purple
1/4 cup Wine
1/4 cup Purple
hunter green
HUNTER GREEN
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Royal Blue
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Dark Green
1 cup Royal Blue
1 cup Dark Green
ivory
IVORY
1/2 tsp Tan
1/2 tsp Yellow
1 tsp Tan
1 tsp Yellow
jade green
JADE GREEN
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Teal
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Yellow
khaki green
KHAKI GREEN
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Tan
1/4 tsp Dark Green
1/2 cup Tan
3/4 tsp Dark Green
khaki tan
KHAKI TAN
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Tan
2 tsp Pearl Grey
light blue
LIGHT BLUE
1 Tbsp Evening Blue 1/4 cup Evening Blue
light green
LIGHT GREEN
2 tsp Kelly Green 2 Tbsp Kelly Green
light turquoise
LIGHT TURQUOISE
2 tsp Royal Blue
2 tsp Kelly Green
2 Tbsp Royal Blue
2 Tbsp Kelly Green
lilac
LILAC
1 Tbsp Mauve
1 tsp Purple
1/4 cup Mauve
1 Tbsp Purple
lime green
LIME GREEN
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Yellow
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Kelly Green
1 cup Yellow
1/2 cup Kelly Green
magenta
MAGENTA
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Fuchsia
2 tsp Wine
1/2 cup Fuchsia
2 Tbsp Wine
marine blue
MARINE BLUE
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Royal Blue
1 tsp Purple
1/2 cup Royal Blue
1 Tbsp Purple
maroon
MAROON
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Wine
2 tsp Dark Brown
1 cup Wine
2 Tbsp Dark Brown
misty lavender
MISTY LAVENDER
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Evening Blue
1 Tbsp Mauve
1/2 cup Evening Blue
1/4 cup Mauve
moss green
MOSS GREEN
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Golden Yellow
1 Tbsp Dark Green
2 tsp Tangerine
mustard
MUSTARD
4 Tbsp (2 pkg) Golden Yellow
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Tan
old ecru
OLD ECRU
(Antique Gold)
1 Tbsp Yellow
1-1/2 tsp Tan
1-1/2 tsp Peach
1/4 cup Yellow
2 Tbsp Tan
2 Tbsp Peach
olive drab
OLIVE DRAB
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Dark Green
1 Tbsp Dark Brown
1/2 cup Dark Green
1/4 cup Dark Brown
orange
ORANGE
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Golden Yellow
1 tsp Scarlet
paprika
PAPRIKA
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Sunshine Orange
1 pkg Scarlet
peacock blue
PEACOCK BLUE
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Royal Blue
1 tsp Kelly Green
1/2 cup Royal Blue
1 Tbsp Kelly Green
pink
PINK
1-1/2 tsp Rose Pink
1/2 tsp Yellow
2 Tbsp Rose Pink
1-1/2 tsp Yellow
plum
PLUM
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Navy Blue
1 Tbsp Wine
1/2 cup Navy Blue
1/4 cup Wine
raspberry sorbet
RASPBERRY SORBET
1-1/2 tsp Cardinal Red
1 tsp Fuchsia
2 Tbsp Cardinal Red
1 Tbsp Fuchsia
rust
RUST
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Tangerine
1 Tbsp Cocoa Brown
1/2 cup Tangerine
1/4 cup Cocoa Brown
sage green
SAGE GREEN
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Pearl Grey
1 Tbsp Sea Foam Green
sea coral orange
SEA CORAL (Orange)
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Yellow
1-1/2 tsp Scarlet
1/2 cup Yellow
2 Tbsp Scarlet
sea coral pink
SEA CORAL (Pink)
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Rose Pink
1-1/2 tsp Tangerine
1/2 cup Rose Pink
2 Tbsp Tangerine
shocking pink
SHOCKING PINK
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Rose Pink
1-1/2 tsp Fuchsia
1/2 cup Rose Pink
2 Tbsp Fuchsia
shrimp pink
SHRIMP PINK
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Rose Pink
1 tsp Tangerine
1/2 cup Rose Pink
1 Tbsp Tangerine
spice brown
SPICE BROWN
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Cocoa Brown
1 Tbsp Tangerine
1/2 cup Cocoa Brown
1/4 cup Tangerine
teal blue
TEAL BLUE
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Royal Blue
1-1/2 tsp Kelly Green
1/2 cup Royal Blue
2 Tbsp Kelly Green
teal green
TEAL GREEN
3 Tbsp (1 1/2 pkg) Kelly Green
1 Tbsp Royal Blue
3/4 cup Kelly Green
1/4 cup Royal Blue
tiger lily
TIGER LILY
2 Tbsp (1 pkg) Tangerine
1 Tbsp Rose Pink
1/2 cup Tangerine
1/4 cup Rose Pink
violet
VIOLET
1 Tbsp Purple
2 tsp Fuchsia
1/4 cup Purple
2 Tbsp Fuchsia

 

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