Dyers have a Secret. It's not one they willingly  share, but occasionally one may airily make a statement such as; "after a few tries you'll get the results you want..." BUT the Rest of the Story is, one dip won't do it.  The REAL Secret  is, this is a trial-and-error craft. Robb may get a masterpiece on the first try---but not me. Tie dyers do  their magic ONCE and that's it. But there are the 'dismals' that even Robb can't  salvage.
I find them at the bottom of bags now and again.
This  rant is now appearing in print because of a pair of pillowcases. Marge asked for some to go with her Southwest Room. Four colors;
*sand dune
*charcoal
*Turkey red
*russet
with white lines between.  O-------kay. Pillowcases are kindergarten sewing. No prob.
Measured the fabric, measured the size. measured where to leave white spaces. Did not check the grain of the fabric. The photo shows the results.

If I had straightened the seam, the stripes would have been off (not matched up)

I don't mind that the dye looks like 'magic markers' or  that the baby-rice-cereal resist didn't work.  It still looks artsy. But that off-grain seam really STEAMS me.

Okay Marge, I'm sending these off to you, but what I'd really like is for you to come back next   summer and give me a second chance. Now that I've learned the Secret.