handle Natural Dye Thread Cover

How to handle Natural Dye Thread & fabric

The soft color from the natural dyes is significantly different from the vivid color with chemical dyes. We enjoy the color of Natural Dye Sashiko thread, especially in a process of making “Boro” so that both fabric and thread can age – change color – together with overtime. We repeatedly tested the color stability, either if the color fades out by washing, before introducing them online. However, the Natural Dyed & Hand Dyed Sashiko thread & fabric require some attention and understanding of how to handle. The color will not be washed away by regular care for the natural dye. However, we do not recommend to throw them to the washing machine with detergent (which may have kind of “bleach” in it). Here, we introduce how to handle Natural Dye Thread and Fabric.


“Don’t” do list | Handle Natural Dye Thread with care.

First of all, please never use “Bleach” in washing and to handle Natural Dye thread. One wash with bleach may (and most likely “will”) completely wash away the natural color and make it bright white. The bleach is strong enough to do its job – to make it bright white.

The point we have to pay attention here is that some of “regular detergent” may contain the same chemical as the bleach in it. For example, if a detergent say “stain removal”, then the detergent may be too strong for the Natural Dye color.

Also, putting the Natural Dye thread and fabric in the water with detergent for a long time is not a good idea. The more time the color touches the detergent, the more color may be washed away.


Do list | How to well Handle Natural Dye Thread

Generally speaking, the natural dye doesn’t go well with the chemical detergent. In need of using the detergent, please choose the “Neutral Detergent”. Although it is quite easy to find them in Japan, I do not find the neutral detergent easily in the US (we can find them but quite expensive). In that case, please try to find the “gentle” or “soft” detergent and make sure to test the thread and fabric if the color will be washed out or not. In my experience, most of the color will stay on unless the detergent is “gentle” and washed gently. However, as a baseline, please handle Natural Dye thread with maximum Care.


Super beautiful color from nature. Although the core enjoyment of natural dye is to enjoy the color change, it is so sad to lose the color.

Summary of Do and Don’t

Do:

  • Hand-wash with no detergent. Or gentle wash with Neutral Detergent.

Don’t:

  • Using Bleach, or strong detergent which may contain Bleach.
  • Machine wash with long-cycle (or extra wash cycle).
  • Leave the thread or fabric in water (with detergent) for a long time.


Understand the reaction process

It is probably difficult to find a “Natural Dye” items in the mass-produced market. It is because the process of natural-dye requires a lot of attention and care. The color from nature will not stay on the thread or fabric by dipping them into a vat. It isn’t like a watercolor, putting paint on the paper.

The natural color stays on the thread and fabric by chemical reaction with a catalyst. We usually use the metal, such as iron or copper, to make the reaction happen. In another example, the Authentic Japanese Indigo Dye (Hon-Aizome), they use the oxidation process to create such a beautiful blue. The fabric and thread right after dipped in the vat looks somewhat “gray” or “brown”. In a process of oxidation (touching the air that contains oxygen), the beautiful Japanese blue comes out.

The chemical reaction doesn’t mean using chemical materials. Here, chemical reaction equals to Oxidation and Reduction. Vinegar will make the liquid more acidic and ash (such as wood ash) make the water more alkalinity. Either of acidic and alkalinity affects the balance of Natural Dye and could end up with washing out the color or changing the color.

Therefore, we strongly recommend using natural detergent, or just water.


The natural dye before the Industrial Revolution

One of the big reasons we use the Natural Dye thread is to recreate the beauty of Japan in hundreds of years ago – before the industrial revolution. Back then, in Japan, they did not have the chemical (artificial) detergent or bleach to wash the fabric. They did not have a washing machine either.

Instead, they washed the fabric and thread by hands with care (attention). I hope you would do the same when you handle Natural Dye thread and fabric.

By the way, this is my personal endnote (which may contradict what I had written so far). Anyhow, I DO wash my Sashiko Stitched Denim with the gentle detergent in a washing machine… I had washed probably more than 100 times over 1~2 years, but I can still see the thread color. The yellow from mountain peach looks more like white, but it still has yellowish color (I believe). I always wash it separately, with a gentle cycle of the washing machine, with a small amount of detergent as I feel. I sometimes do not add the detergent, but at some point, the jeans get smelly that we need some detergent… I hope you can find your own way to handle Natural Dye thread and fabric.


Shop our Natural Dye Sashiko Thread

Sashiko Starter Package 2021

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$68.90
In stock
1
Product Details

【Update in 2021】

This is an updated version of "Sashiko Starter Package". The previous package (Sashiko Starter Set 2018) was discontinued when I decdied to offer the Online Sashiko Class. After receiving a request to offer the Sashiko Starter Package, I decided to offer it again.

This is a simple package to start enjoying Sashiko with all of the items you would need, including the materials to learn how to transfer the pattern on the fabric. (Please be advised that the pattern is NOT pre-printed. You would need to do it by yourself. The tutorials are available on our Youtube).


This package is a good deal for anyone who would like to "try" Sashiko.

However, the content of the package is almost identical to the supply package for our Workshop/Class. Please consider taking the Sashiko Class (Online or In-person) if you are willing to spend some time in Sashiko stitching.

In the class, you will learn the essence of Sashiko stitching we have been practicing & sharing. For more information about Online Class, Please read the article about the Online Sashiko Class here.

https://upcyclestitches.com/store/Online-Sashiko-Class-Basic-and-Core-p131842067


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(The key of our class is that I can offer the personal help. You may "watch & learn" by our Youtube Videos as well. In that case, this package may be beneficial).

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We prepared a package of Sashiko materials, supplies and tools for people who would like to try Sashiko from scratch. What you need to prepare is a ballpoint pen or a tracing wheel.

Please start transferring your favorite pattern to the Indigo Dye Cotton Fabric. Then, enjoy Sashiko stitching with our specific needles, thimble and Sashiko thread. You may use the another sheet of cotton fabric as backing up the main fabric, or simply use it for another Sashiko project. All the materials to finish it as "Tablemat" is included.


The set include;

  • 1 x Indigo Dyed Fabric | Cotton 100% About 28" x 11"
  • 1 x Cotton Poplin Fabric (for back fabric usgae) / About 28" x 11"
  • 1 x Fusible Interface / About 28" x 11" - to finish the fabric as an item.
  • 1 x Mylar Paper (for transferring the pattern) About 11" x 8"
  • 1 x Carbon Paper (for transferring the pattern) About 5.5" x 10" (Yellow or White - tutorials will be available on Youtube).
  • Safety Pins (for transferring the pattern)
  • Sashiko Patterns Paper | 4 of traditional patterns
  • Sashiko Thread | 145 meter | Cotton 100% | White
  • 1 x thin Sashiko Thread (Yokota) White, small skein.
  • 3 Sashiko needles and 1 Sashiko thimble
  • Itomaki Bobbin Paper (For keeping Sashiko thread in a good shape) - *may be upgraded to the latest version.
  • Chalk Pencil

*Most of the items above are available in this website as a single item so that you can purchase when you need more.



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