Name: Tim

Message: Hello,

I am interested in dyeing my own fabric to make quilts and was wondering if you could tell me if you have a review of the various brands of Procion MX out there.  I.e., is Jacquard just as good as Dharma Trading?  If yes, why is the former so much more expensive?  

I would appreciate any help you can give me.

The price of Procion MX type dyes in the US depends on the size of the container you buy it in. If you mail-order 8-ounce jars of Procion MX dyes from Jacquard or another store that carries their products (you can call Jacquard Products directly), the prices per ounce are similar to those at Dharma Trading Company. Some colors will cost more from Jacquard Products, while others will cost more from Dharma Trading Company. Other similarly inexpensive sources include PRO Chemical & Dye, Aljo Manufacturing, and Colorado Wholesale Dye (aka Grateful Dyes). All of these companies are good sources for dye. 

Dyes in general cost much more when purchased in small containers. The most expensive dyes for home use are the Rit all-purpose dyes; although they are much less satisfactory in their properties than fiber reactive dyes are, they are more expensive because they are sold in little packets that will dye only a single garment. The 2/3 ounce (20 gram) jars of Procion MX dyes from Jacquard Products are considerably more economical than Rit dyes, because they will dye a much larger amount of fabric. However, whenever you buy dye powder in larger jars, the cost will be more economical still. A two-ounce jar of Procion MX type dye powder is a better buy than a 2/3 ounce jar of dye. The difference between the price-per ounce of two-ounce and eight-ounce jars is less dramatic. Jacquard Products does not sell Procion MX type dye in two-ounce jars, but they do sell the same days in eight-ounce, sixteen-ounce, and larger packages.

You may wish to buy from the dealer that is located closest to you, to save on shipping costs; Dharma Trading Company and Jacquard Products are located in California, Grateful Dyes in Colorado, PRO Chemical & Dyes in Massachusetts, and Aljo Manufacturing in New York. Or, you may chose based on what other items you wish to buy. Dharma Trading Company has the best selection of dyeable clothing blanks, while PRO Chemical & Dye and Aljo Manufacturing have the best selection of other types of dye for dyeing different kinds of fibers. There are also different pure unmixed dyes available at the different retailers. Grateful Dyes sells a hard-to-find Cherry dye, Rubine MX-B, while Aljo Manufacturing carries a difficult-to-find Blue-violet, Blue MX-7RX. All of these different dye companies sell basic dye chemicals such as soda ash, urea, and sodium alginate.

Procion MX dyes, when sold by crafts suppliers, tend to cost considerably more in countries other than the US. Some dyers in Australia or Europe prefer to mail-order their dyes from the US instead of purchasing from local crafts retailers. Of course, any sort of rapid shipping will cost far more than the savings on the dyes, but if you call a dye supplier in the US by telephone, you can usually request a slower form of shipping that makes this option economical. Slow shipping is not generally available as an option when you purchase through the websites.

If you are willing to work with 5-kilogram units of dye, per color, then you can buy directly from the dye manufacturer for a cost that is much lower per ounce, but this is not at all practical for most fiber artists or for home use. We are fortunate to have dye retailers who will package the dyes for us in units of one pound or less per jar.

See also my chart on 'Comparison of Dye Costs', and my page of Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World.

(Please help support this web site. Thank you.)