Name: Frances

Country: USA

Message: I've been dyeing a lot of Dharma Trading clothing blanks solid colors to decorate. With Procion MX dyes, mostly also bought from Dharma. Problem is, practically all their colors are mixed to come out bright and clear, which I'm sure many of their customers love. I don't. I want muddy earth tones, but I'd like to use colors other than brown. I've found a few premixed colors I like, but I'd like to know how to subdue/tone down any color. So that I can, for example, get a subdued peach or orange instead of one that knocks me over the head. Is there a general technique for toning down colors (mix in some brown?) 

Yes, you can tone down your colors by mixing in a gray dye mixture, or a brown dye mixture. I recommend that you try the same toning color to tone down each of your primary or secondary colors, in order to generate a group of colors that harmonize very well together. You can mix your own gray or brown toning colors, or you can use a pre-mixed gray or brown color, purchased from Dharma or another good dye supplier.

Note that Dharma has a limited supply of some particularly muddy Procion MX colors on sale now. While it lasts, see their "Muck Dye" page.

For a much more detailed discussion of this topic, see the March 27, 2009 entry in this blog:
"How to Tone Down Excessively Bright Colors"
It includes a book recommendation, as well as suggestions on how to mix your own more subtle dye colors.

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