CMY Spectrum

I used the "CMY" primary colors: cyan, magenta, and yellow. If you buy printer ink, you'll recognize these as the printer's primaries. Because I wanted to choose the most accurate fiber reactive dye colors for this mix, I looked at the detailed information given on Paula Burch's website.

I needed to rinse out my brush for each color after applying the dye in order to keep the colors clear and bright. So, although only 3 colors were used (the secondary colors came about from the primaries overlapping) it was one of the trickiest batches I've ever done. The results were worth it, I think! They're listed in my Etsy Shop.

Primary colors

Apparently there's discussion these days about which colors are "Primary" colors. Some say the Red, Yellow, and Blue most of us learned in school are not as truly "Primary" (a group of colors from which all other colors can be obtained by mixing) as the Magenta, Yellow, and Cyan used in printer inks. I don't know how it'll work with dyes, but it's obvious that I'll have to do another batch with the other set of primaries next. Anyhow, a limited amount of the thread pictured above is listed in my Etsy shop.

I haven't tatted anything yet with this hand dyed, but here's some items I made in solid blue, red, and yellow:

Blue "Atom" pendant from my own pattern in Up and Tat 'Em

Red earrings from my "Grand Aura" pattern in Up and Tat 'Em

Yellow "Atom" from my own pattern in Up and Tat 'Em