Search this site

Learn how a hot soak speeds up tie-dye batching. Use hot water to set color in about an hour instead of overnight, with tips for safe fabrics and color control. What is a hot soak in tie dye, and how does it speed batching? A hot soak is a shortcut for ice dyers who want to see their results faster. Instead of waiting 24 hours at room temp, you soak the item in hot water to set the dye faster. I started doing it while testing geode style shirts because I wanted a faster feedback loop: tie it, dye it, rinse it, study it, repeat. A hot soak reduces batch time down from a full day to about an hour. How to do it: Place the shirt in a bin of very hot water (not boiling). Leave it for about an hour. Then rinse normally. If you’re worried about color loss, you can put the item in a plastic bag before soaking so dye doesn’t bleed off, but skip the bag when your piece has light or pastel areas next to dark ones. The pooled dye can touch lighter sections and cause blotches. When the piece is mostly dark or a single color, bagging works fine. And sometimes I leave it loose on purpose. The tiny bit of dye that washes away can create soft, radiant streaks that look like light rays. Use this trick only on 100% cotton or other sturdy naturals. The hot water can distort bamboo velour or polyester blends, especially if the fabric is tied tight in a geode fold because the heat and tension can warp the fibers. Also, if you are using a turquoise based blues, you might lose some vibrancy when speeding up batch time with heat. Usually, I'm not bothered by that, especially if my goal is to quickly test tying and dyeing techniques. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

A traditional Japanese folding and binding method used to create repeating patterns in fabric. Shibori fold A traditional Japanese folding and binding method used to create repeating patterns in fabric. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .

Fabric paint needs to dry fully and then be heat set to bond to the fibers. Let the paint dry, then cure it with a dryer, iron, or heat press following the temperature guidelines for the paint. How to set fabric paint Fabric paint is usually set by letting it dry completely and then applying heat, which bonds the pigments to the fibers. You can heat set it with a clothes dryer, an iron, or a heat press depending on the fabric and the paint instructions. Let the fabric paint dry fully I mixed Lumiere metallic fabric paint with another Jacquard color to get the grey dots on the yellow sweatshirt. After applying the paint, I let it air dry until the surface was fully dry and no areas felt cool. Most fabric paints need complete drying before heat setting so the binder can attach to the fibers. Use heat to set the paint After the paint dried, I set it in the home dryer. Medium to high heat for 20 to 30 minutes is enough to cure most textile paints on cotton and other natural fabrics. The dryer works well for metallic or layered paints because there is no direct contact with the surface. Other ways to heat set fabric paint You can also use an iron by placing a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric and keeping the iron moving. A heat press works too if you follow the temperature guidelines listed on the paint label. Aftercare Once the paint is heat set, it becomes flexible and washable. Most brands recommend waiting at least 72 hours before the first wash. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

Polka dot plants (Hypoestes phyllostachya) are non-toxic to cats. Learn why they’re considered safe, what to expect if your cat nibbles on one, and where to check reliable plant toxicity lists for pets. Are polka dot plants toxic to cats? Polka dot plants (Hypoestes phyllostachya) are non-toxic to cats, according to verified pet-safety plant lists. A curious cat might nibble on the leaves, but the plant won’t poison them, it’s considered safe. The polka dot plant is Hypoestes phyllostachya, a small tropical houseplant known for its spotted leaves and its world-class ability to act offended if you miss a watering. I didn’t buy this particular one today at Lowe’s, but I’ve had them in the past alongside my two cats, and there were never any toxicity issues. The ASPCA lists this species as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so if your cat decides to chew on a leaf, the worst consequence is usually just the plant looking even more pathetic than usual. If you want a reliable source for checking pet-safe and pet-toxic plants in general, the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List is the gold standard for cat owners. It’s what most vets, plant hobbyists, and pet forums reference, and it’s the quickest way to confirm whether a houseplant is a threat or just dramatic. And since we’re being honest: even if this plant were toxic, the odds of it lasting long enough to harm anything are slim. Polka dot plants wilt theatrically if you look at them wrong, and if you forget to water it for one day too long, it will go crispier than a fall leaf. Great for color lovers, terrible for commitment minimalists. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

A sprinter van made by Thor on display at the RV Hall of Fame. Interior highlights include the skylight, lighting, smooth surfaces, and the living-area access to the driver seat. Thor sprinter van A new sprinter van by Thor, on display in the GO RVing exhibit hall, at the RV Hall of Fame This is a sprinter van, made by Thor, on display for guests to tour. I visited the RV Hall of Fame Museum Nov 2025, mainly to see the vintage RV interiors, but I was surprised to see this modern van example. The lighting and smooth surfaces made this feel like a spaceship. I particularly enjoyed the roof skylight, which ran most of the length of the van. If I had to live in a small space, the extra light would be very nice. The continuous lighting strip and ceiling skylight make the narrow space feel open. The driver seat is accessible from the living area, which is a priority for many solo travelers. More examples of exhibits will be available on the RV Hall of Fame page, soon. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

When sewing cloth pads, the sewing line is the exact line you stitch on, and the seam allowance is the extra fabric outside that line. Drawing and sewing on a marked line gives cleaner, more consistent pad shapes, especially when working with stretchy fabrics. Draw the sewing line on the back of the topper | sewing line vs seam allowance When sewing cloth menstrual pads, the sewing line is the exact line you stitch on, while the seam allowance is the extra fabric outside that line. Drawing and sewing directly on a marked line gives more consistent, accurate shapes than relying on fabric edges as your guide. Why I switched from using seam allowance to sewing lines When I first started sewing cloth pads, I used the standard sewing method where you cut the fabric with seam allowance included and align the fabric edge with the presser foot. That works fine for clothing, but I noticed my pad shapes would vary, especially around the wings, because the fabric edges stretch or warp during sewing. Once I started drawing the exact shape of the pad onto the back of the topper fabric, I got more consistent results. I position the line directly under the sewing needle, sew along it, and leave a small hole for turning. The pad shapes end up perfectly even, and the line doesn’t shift like the fabric edge can. Stability and accuracy If you’re using knits or fleece as topper fabrics, you can add a hidden woven layer like cotton flannel or muslin under the topper. This stabilizes the fabric and gives you a good surface to draw on. That stabilizing layer with the drawn line becomes your guide for the sewing. Time saving workflow When I sew multiple pads at once, I trace the pad outline, sew directly on the line, and rough-cut around it. After sewing, I use pinking shears to trim the seam allowance before turning. Since I trim anyway, this makes the process faster and keeps shapes precise. Older versions of my Versodile cloth pad patterns included seam allowance options, but newer ones are drafted with the exact intended shape of the pad as the sewing line. The core templates, or absorbent layers, should still be cut to the exact shape shown. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

A chart to determine how many layers of absorbent fabric to cut, for sewing your own cloth menstrual pads. Layer chart for cloth pad core fabric Here’s a chart to figure out how many layers of fabric you need to cut for the core of your cloth menstrual pad. You can use the chart below as a starting point to know how many absorbent layers to cut for your cloth pad. If the fabric is thick like sweatshirt material, you'll want to use two layers of that for a heavy pad. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

A dye type used on animal fibers like wool or silk. Requires heat and acid to set. Acid dye supply A dye type used on animal fibers like wool or silk. Requires heat and acid to set. When people want to dye their own wool yarn, they do that with something called acid dye. It's super fun because the colors in wool are quite vibrant, especially the colors made by Dharma Trading Company that are labeled fluorescent. They do feel like they glow. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .

For a short video posted in January 2026, ad revenue ended up being about $87 per million views. How much does 1 million views on YouTube pay? For a short video posted in January 2026, ad revenue ended up being about $87 per million views. A recently posted short form video posted to the Corky Lorenz YouTube channel is now over 2.5 million views. Data for Jan 17th shows 1,037,534 views and estimated ad revenue at $87.07 for just that video. The ad revenue rate for shorts is much lower than long form videos. But, it is still helpful in boosting views on older videos. Overall, views on the channel went up for most videos. The short getting viral distribution was aligned in topic with previous content. Many viewers also watched related long form videos. New subscribers from that event totaled around 1,000. Ice dye on a cotton shirt: https://youtube.com/shorts/-shz8Wbi9EU?feature=share This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

Absorbent core fabric for sewing cloth menstrual pads, and cloth diapers. How to prep before sewing, and what GSM to buy. Bamboo Fleece (400 GSM) Nature's Fabrics listing Bamboo Fleece Info Absorbent fabric used as core material for cloth pads and diapers. It feels distinctly silky and floppy. 2 layers of this is GREAT for a heavy cloth pad core. Texture The knit side is smooth The brushed side is fuzzy After washing, the fabric edge will curl toward the smooth side. Sew close to the edge to prevent curling inside of your pad. Weight (GSM) Common weights to buy for cloth pads are 300, 400, and 500gsm. I personally enjoy working with the 400gsm weight. Prepping the fabric My most recent yard of bamboo fleece had a shrinkage rate of about 14%. This is normal. To avoid a finished pad wrinkling after sewing, make sure to fully "prep" the fabric. Wash and dry on hot 3 times, before sewing. Performance Bamboo fleece makes very thin pads. Highly absorbent, and stays soft/floppy longterm. Absorbency layers 1 layer = liner/moderate absorbency 2 layers = heavy 3 layers = very heavy/postpartum It might be tricky to sew 3 layers, so it might be good to use a graded (stepped) core approach. Where to buy I love buying pad materials from Nature's Fabrics. They have excellent customer service and stock consistent fabric styles. Not just for cores Lots of people love having the top layer, next to skin, sewn with 300-400gsm bamboo fleece. It's adds a lot of absorbency over the entire pad, instead of just in the core section. Whether you have the smooth or fuzzy side facing out, is up to preference. Dye your bamboo fleece This fabric dyes beautifully with fiber reactive dyes! You can ice dye or liquid dye bamboo fleece.