Its best to gather the things you need to dye before you start! Look for 2nd hand where you can (charity shops, car boot and whatever friends or family have sitting around unused. You want to keep your own cooking things separate from anything you use for dyeing
The basic six to start
Time – this is not an instant process, it cannot be rushed, slow down and enjoy the adventure, it is not a race!
Fabric – 100% cotton (white cotton T-shirts are easy to get hold of and relatively inexpensive, you can also use cotton shirts, cotton fabric that you then sow or linen, hemp and bamboo fibre).
Baking soda
Stainless steel pan (see below)
Soy Milk (for use as a dye binder - unsweetened & unflavoured)
Spoon for stirring – you can use wooden spoons but would need a new one for every dye so use a stainless steel spoon (see below) and wash it!
If your interest is piqued: not all needed at once but gradually over time these will all prove useful
A notebook for keeping a record of what you did, and the results, so you know stuff for next time!
Protection for your surface – a cheap shower curtain can be wiped down and reused many times … they are larger and cheaper than a wipe down tablecloth and last longer than a plastic paint sheet
Plastic Gloves to keep dye off your hands
Plasticised apron – to keep the dye off you or a set of old clothes that don’t matter if splashed (remember old shoes or wellies for the same reason)
Stainless steel pans – 2 pans make dyeing easier, a largish 10lt stainless steel pot and lid and a medium 5lt for extracting the dye
Stainless steel sieve – big enough to hold a wet T-shirt… as your dyeing adventure progresses you might like sieves in different sizes
Stainless steel slotted or perforated spoon – for agitating dye, for lifting bits out and for stirring and pushing fabric around
Stainless steel tongs – much easier for lifting wet fabric from a dye pot than
Mild soap – an eco-type, pH neutral, for washing your dyed items in the future
Heat source – to start with use your cooker top but in the future you might want a dedicated hot plate
Scales – use your kitchen ones to start with but clean them thoroughly after use, again if you are not dyeing in your kitchen get a set for your working space
Funnel – plastic or metal (useful for tipping unused dye into smaller containers)
Plastic measuring jug
Plastic bucket or bowl for swilling fabric
Glass jars – a few (you can use recycled mayo or jam jars) for keeping unused dye in temporarily (always label)
Drying rack
Down the line: as your dyeing explorations widen then you will need some of these too.
Aluminium Lactate (a mordant, is a fine powder, you will need to weigh it carefully)
Face mask if using mordant or modifier powders
Plastic measuring spoons for fine powders or additives
Universal indicator paper – look for pH strips
Thermometer – only needed if your dyebath needs to reach a very specific temperature
Plastic dropper pipettes
Glass jar with non metal lid for making/storing iron water
Washing soda
Calcium carbonate (chalk)
Salt
Elastic bands and string and things like that for exploring tie-dye effects
A speckle pot... speckle dyeing is a technique to explore further down the line
More stainless steel pans - particularly if you explore dye mixing and overdyeing
From hobby to passion: if you discover your explorations and adventures with dyeing become a passion you will need 2 more things...