When Tub (vat) Dyeing, if you have a scale and want to know how much dye to use for any color or fabric weight, please use the Fiber Reactive Dye Yields Estimator and it will do the math for you.

This yield chart is helpful for Tub (vat) Dyeing for advanced dyers who want to control and repeat their results. The first 3 columns are how much dye we used, under controlled conditions to get the colors on our color chart. The rest of the columns are for those of you who don't want to mess with scales or weighing dye. You will find, if you look at the numbers, that a lot of times if you weigh the dye, you will end up using less dye for many colors than if you use the teaspoon method, which is more economical in the long run if you are in production. It is not particularly applicable to tie-dyeing although it does show the relative amount of dye powder that you can get per each oz. of dye, (which varies from batch to batch), and therefore calculate how many squirt bottles of dye you can make of each color.

Keep in mind that if you need specific colors, you must do TESTING! If it comes out too dark, use less dye, if it comes out too light, use more dye. Dyelots, conditions,and techniques will vary and cause color shifts.

Table of OWG values

Most accurate: Use weights:                                           Tie-dye you
                                                                      can tie-dye
                                                                     ~1 lb fabric
                                                                        with 8 oz
                                          Tub Dyeing                  dye mixture
                               PERCENT         GRAMS        OUNCES  more accurate            how many
                              OF WEIGHT          PER           PER          grams  8oz bottles of dye
                               OF GOODS       LB. OF        LB. OF       per 8 oz    can you get from
Code     COLOR NAME              %OWG         FABRIC        FABRIC    dye mixture       ea. 2 oz jar:

 1       LEMON YELLOW             1.4           6.3          0.22          6.3               8.94
 2       BRIGHT YELLOW            1.8           8.2          0.29          8.2               6.96
 3       GOLDEN YELLOW            1.4           6.3          0.22          6.3               8.94
 3A      CLEAR YELLOW             1.8           8.2          0.29          8.2               6.96
 4       DEEP YELLOW              2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 5       SOFT ORANGE              2.6          11.8          0.42         11.8               4.82
 6       DEEP ORANGE              1.9           8.6          0.30          8.6               6.59
 6A      ECRU                     3.2          14.5          0.51         14.5               3.91
 7A      PEACH                    3.0          13.6          0.48         13.6               4.17
 8       RUST ORANGE              2.8          12.7          0.45         12.7               4.47
 8A      PAGODA RED*              4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 9       SCARLET*                 4.8          21.7          0.77         21.7               2.61
 10      FIRE RED*                5.3          24.0          0.85         24.0               2.36
 10A     CHINESE RED*             6.0          27.2          0.96         27.2               2.09
 11A     ROSE RED                 2.9          13.1          0.46         13.1               4.32
 12      LIGHT RED                2.2          10.0          0.35         10.0               5.69
 12A     BABY PINK                3.3          14.9          0.53         14.9               3.79
 13      FUSHIA RED               2.9          13.1          0.46         13.1               4.32
 14      CORAL PINK               2.9          13.1          0.46         13.1               4.32
 14A     HOT PINK                 3.1          14.0          0.50         14.0               4.04
 15      AMETHYST                 2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 16      MAROON*                  4.4          19.9          0.70         19.9               2.85
 17      BURGUNDY*                4.2          19.0          0.67         19.0               2.98
 18      DEEP PURPLE              2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 18A     ULTRA VIOLET             2.2          10.0          0.35         10.0               5.69
 19      PLUM                     2.9          13.1          0.46         13.1               4.32
 19A     LILAC                    1.8           8.2          0.29          8.2               6.96
 20      DUSTY ROSE               2.5          11.3          0.40         11.3               5.01
 21      TEAL BLUE                1.8           8.2          0.29          8.2               6.96
 22      COBALT BLUE*             5.3          24.0          0.85         24.0               2.36
 23      CERULEAN BLUE*           3.1          14.0          0.50         14.0               4.04
 23A     ELECTRIC BLUE* (T)       3.1          14.0          0.50         14.0               4.04
 24      NAVY BLUE*               4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 25      TURQUOISE (T)*           4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 26      SKY BLUE                 1.5           6.8          0.24          6.8               8.35
 27      MIDNIGHT BLUE*           3.3          14.9          0.53         14.9               3.79
 28A     AQUA MARINE* (T)         4.4          19.9          0.70         19.9               2.85
 28B     BETTER BLUE GREEN        4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 29      BRIGHT GREEN (T)         2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 30      EMERALD GREEN* (T)       4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 31      DARK GREEN*              4.4          19.9          0.70         19.9               2.85
 31A     FOREST GREEN*            4.3          19.5          0.69         19.5               2.91
 32      OLIVE DRAB               2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 33      AVOCADO                  3.8          17.2          0.61         17.2               3.30
 34      RUST BROWN*              5.0          22.6          0.80         22.6               2.50
 35      DARK BROWN*              4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 35A     CHOCOLATE BROWN*         3.8          17.2          0.61         17.2               3.30
 36      MAROON BROWN*            4.2          19.0          0.67         19.0               2.98
 36A     HAVANA BROWN*            3.5          15.8          0.56         15.8               3.58
 37      BRONZE                   2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 38      KHAKI                    2.2          10.0          0.35         10.0               5.69
 38A     BLUE GRAY                2.2          10.0          0.35         10.0               5.69
 39      BLACK**                  11.1         50.3          1.78         50.3               1.13
 41      CHARCOAL GRAY            2.2          10.0          0.35         10.0               5.69
 43      BLUE VIOLET (T)          2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 44      BETTER BLACK**           7.5          34.0          1.20         34.0               1.67
 45      JUNGLE RED*              7.4          33.5          1.18         33.5               1.69
 46      BRILLIANT BLUE           2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 47      CHARTREUSE (T)           2.6          12.0          0.42         12.0               4.74
 48      BABY BLUE                5.0          22.4          0.79         22.4               2.53
 49      RED WINE*                7.2          32.6          1.15         32.6               1.74
 50      JADE GREEN (T)           2.2           9.9          0.35          9.9               5.72
 51      PLUM BLOSSUM (T)         5.2          23.4          0.83         23.4               2.42
 56      AZURE BLUE*              4.8          21.7          0.77         21.7               2.61
 60      LAVENDER                 1.5           6.8          0.24          6.8               8.35
 61      ICE BLUE                 2.8          12.7          0.45         12.7               4.47
 62      PEACOCK BLUE* (T)        3.3          14.9          0.53         14.9               3.79
 64      ORCHID                   2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 65      RASPBERRY                2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 66      KELLY GREEN* (T)         3.5          15.8          0.56         15.8               3.58
 67      MARIGOLD                 1.8           8.2          0.29          8.2               6.96
 70      SAPPHIRE BLUE*           5.7          25.8          0.91         25.8               2.20
 75      SAFARI GRAY              2.8          12.7          0.45         12.7               4.47
 76      WEDGEWOOD BLUE           2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 77      ALPINE BLUE              3.3          14.9          0.53         14.9               3.79
 80      ROBIN'S EGG BLUE (T)     3.5          15.8          0.56         15.8               3.58
 83      WISTERIA                 3.5          15.8          0.56         15.8               3.58
 85      SEAFOAM                  3.3          14.9          0.53         14.9               3.79
 86      CLARET                   2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 93      KILT GREEN*              4.4          19.9          0.70         19.9               2.85
 95      ROYAL BLUE**             7.5          34.0          1.20         34.0               1.67
 96      LAPIS                    1.3           5.9          0.21          5.9               9.63
 97      CITRUS YELLOW            2.6          11.8          0.42         11.8               4.82
 98      BUBBLE GUM               3.3          14.9          0.53         14.9               3.79
 101     CAMEL                    3.1          14.0          0.50         14.0               4.04
 105     PEWTER                   2.4          10.9          0.38         10.9               5.22
 108     CAYMAN ISLE GREEN (T)    1.5           6.8          0.24          6.8               8.35
 111     BLACK CHERRY*            4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 112     PERIWINKLE               2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 113     GOLDEN BROWN             2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 114     IVORY                    1.0           4.5          0.16          4.5              12.52
 115     EGGPLANT**               8.0          36.2          1.28         36.2               1.57
 116     BRAZIL NUT*              4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 117     GRAPE                    2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 118     YUCCA                    2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 119     RED VIOLET               2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 120     TANGERINE                2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 121     SUNRISE RED              2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 130     STRONG NAVY*             4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 131     IMPERIAL PURPLE*         4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 132     CARIBBEAN BLUE*          4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 134     MOSS GREEN*              4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 135     TRUFFLE BROWN*           4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 136     OXBLOOD RED*             4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 137     MINK BROWN               2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 138     PALOMINO GOLD            2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 139     MIST GREY                2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 140     SAGE GREEN               2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 141     TERRACOTTA               2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 142     DUTCH CHOCOLATE*         4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 143     WASABI (T)               2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 144     CHAMOIS                  2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 145     DANCES WITH RAISINS*     4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 146     KINGFISHER BLUE*         4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 147     ORANGE SORBET            2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 148     POMEGRANATE*             4.0          18.1          0.64         18.1               3.13
 149     LIME SQUEEZE (T)         2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 150     GUNMETAL GRAY            2.0           9.1          0.32          9.1               6.26
 250     JET BLACK**              7.5          34.0          1.20         34.0               1.67
 300     NEW BLACK**             14.8          67.0          2.37         67.0               0.85

Also, if you just want to make it easy, forget the chart above. Use this: Colors without a star try 1 level tablespoon (1/4 to 1/2 oz.) for each lb. of fabric to get close to the color card for most colors. Adjust that as necessary to get a color darker or lighter.

Colors with * require 2X as much dye, ie. 2 TBS.

Colors with * * require 4X as much dye, ie. 4 TB.

Colors marked (T) contain #25 Turquoise. These colors:

•  
  1. Contain a small amount of copper compound to give it that incredible color
  2. Warmer tap water (up to 130F) when vat dyeing, can sometimes yield deeper shades.
  3. Using Glauber's salt instead of plain salt when vat dyeing can also improve results.

Black dyes: There are 4 blacks. Each has a different color cast. All work well in direct application methods like tie-dye where the fabric is kept moist long enough for the dye to develop full depth but you will see some differences depending upon which you use and your particular situation and techniques. On the other hand, when vat dyeing (solid shade dyeing), there are some clear differences, and those can even vary from batch to batch:

#44 Better Black vat dyes with a purple blue cast and edges are blue in tie-dye.

#250 Jet Black - This is the most concentrated of all the blacks and gives the deepest black when used for tub (vat) dyeing with hot tap water (130 to 150F). Edges are green in tie-dye. If you don't use hot enough water, you will get olive green or grey if you're lucky.

#39 Black Vat dyes with a green cast and edges are greenish blue in tie-dye.

#300 Black Vat dyes with a very blue cast and edges are blue in tie-dye.

Some tie-dyers like to combine #44 and #300 in equal portions. Others use the expensive #250 in hot water, then cure their tie dyes under a heating blanket! Must have to charge more. Let's face it, black is difficult. You have to look at it relative to your other colors. If it looks black next to the other colors, you have done well. Just remember, you always have to use way more dye to get black, as in the chart above. Extra salt helps a lot when tub dyeing - 1.5 to 2 times as much. A final soak of Dharma Dye Fixative or Retayne will help tub dyed garments be even blacker, and have less dye washout.