Clearing up confusion on immersion dyeing recipes


Name: Elizabeth

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A guide to low water immersion dyeing
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Color by Accident: Low-Water Immersion Dyeingir?t=dyeblog-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0965677605
by Ann Johnston

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Message: Dear Paula, after reading low water and general instructions, I'm a bit confused.

1 - Do you rinse the washed fabric of all chemicals and allow it to DRY?

2 - MOST IMPORTANTLY, when you are pouring the dye mixed with water over the scrunched fabric, am I correct that this is clean fabric with NO FIXER & is the SCRUNCHED fabric wet or dry?

Here's the timeline for low water immersion dyeing, which is an excellent way to dye interesting subtle random patterns (see "How to Do Low Water Immersion Dyeing"):
  1. wash fabric in hot water to remove sizing
  2. place wet or dry fabric in container, scrunched as desired
  3. mix dye powder with water and pour it over the fabric
  4. repeat with another color if desired
  5. add more water if needed
  6. allow time for dye to soak into the fibers in the fabric, between fifteen minutes and an hour
  7. mix soda ash with water and pour it over the fabric. do not stir.
  8. allow time for dye to react with fabric (one hour to overnight)
  9. wash in cool water to remove auxiliary chemicals and some of the dye
  10. wash twice in very hot water (140°F) to remove remaining excess unattached dye
  11. machine dry or line dry
For high water ratio immersion dyeing, to get a single smooth solid color, you must use a large amount of water, and you must use salt; salt is entirely optional for low water immersion dyeing. (See "How can I dye clothing or fabric in the washing machine?") Here's the timeline:
  1. wash fabric in hot water to remove sizing
  2. add predissolved salt to a large amount of water
  3. stir (if you're dyeing in a bucket) or agitate (if you're dyeing in a washing machine)
  4. add predissolved (and possibly filtered) dye
  5. stir or agitate
  6. add the fabric
  7. stir or agitate for twenty minutes
  8. add part of the soda ash
  9. stir or agitate for five or ten minutes
  10. add more of the soda ash
  11. stir or agitate for five or ten minutes
  12. add the rest of the soda ash
  13. stir or agitate for thirty to sixty minutes
  14. pour out dyebath
  15. wash in cool water to remove auxiliary chemicals and some of the dye
  16. wash twice in very hot water (140°F) to remove remaining excess unattached dye
  17. machine dry or line dry
Of course you should select a good recipe, and follow it closely; these summaries are just to give you a feel for the differences.  

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Posted: Friday - September 03, 2010 at 08:24 AM          

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