Black and Grey can sometimes be very difficult to get.  Here are some helpful hints.

To achieve the perfect black using DYLON Multi-Purpose Dye combine Ebony Black and Tangerine.  Because black consists of the 3 primaries (Red, Blue & Yellow) and the DYLON Black is quite blue based we suggest adding Tangerine (Red & Yellow) to neutralize and deepen the blue tones into a true Black.   

With the discontinuation of DYLON Multi-Purpose Pewter Grey (#61) we would like to offer you some alternatives to getting the perfect grey using either Ebony Black (#8) or Elephant Grey (#21).

These samples show we dissolved 5ml of dye powder into 100 ml of boiling water and made separate stock solutions for each colour.  From that we added various mls of that stock solution to a simmering vat of salted water (5ml salt to 3 cups of water) to get these samples.  The vats were approx 5 minutes long and a 10” square of white cotton was used for each.

For large amounts of fabric yardage we would start by multiplying the sample formula by 10 and holding back on the secondary colour as you start to get darker. It is always easier to add colour instead of taking it away!! 

Here are some gorgeous easy to do samples of light/charcoal greys using easy two colour formulas with Ebony Black and Tangerine.

Below are some grey samples using Elephant Grey:

The Elephant Grey is actually very pink when used on its own.  To get grey tones from pink you would have to use Emerald Green (#25) to neutralize.  In the vat both the water and fabric looked very green but when rinsed and dry they would turn into beautiful grey colours.  What you see in the vat may not be what you end up with! Sample wherever you can.

Fabric in a vat of Elephant/Emerald- The same piece of fabric rinsed and dry.

When adding green to the Elephant Grey we found that we had to go brown first before the grey would appear. Be sure to add very small amounts of Emerald Green slowly or you may end up with green or a very cool grey.

 One nice surprise we got from sampling with Elephant Grey was discovering the beautiful linen colours we could achieve very easily

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