Sometimes specks of color show up on my hand dyed fabrics. Where are they coming from and how can I avoid them in the future?
Specks are small bits of undissolved dye that cling to the bottom or sides of the mixing container. When you dump the dye into the larger container, these bits hide out and wait patiently for the cloth to arrive so they can jump onto the surface and make you crazy later. The solution is to mix the powders well in a small amount of warm water, stir well when the next amount of water is added, toss the dyes back and forth from one container to another and look closely to make sure there aren’t any bits of color still left here or there. Squash them with your gloved fingers if you find the little buggers. Some colors are more prone to speckling than others. Reds seem to be the worst offenders. If you continue to have problems, use a coffee filter or a knee high stocking as a strainer. Rinse it well each time to get the loose stuff out of there, if you plan on reusing the knee high as a filter.
