Advice on keeping painted dye where I want it

[liveincolor]

Greetings, I'm new here though I've been dyeing with Procion Fiber Reactive Dyes for 5 years now.

I experiment with various techniques and one of my favorite styles is thickening the dye so that I can paint with it. However I often run into one problem in particular, especially when working with multiple pieces...often times, either during rinsing, or even during washing, if the dyed part of the fabric touches the undyed part it leaves a mark. I never allow the dyed portion to touch the undyed portions before its rinse and washed, but this is impossible to control during rinsing and washing.

I wait at least 24 hours before rinsing, because my theory is that the dye should be exhausted by then and unable to dye further, but obviously my theory isn't perfect because even after 24 hours the dye is completely exhausted and can leave marks on the undyed portions when rinsing and/or washing.

Does anyone have any tricks to keep the dye from leaving a mark on undyed parts of the material ? I know that dye is supposed to loose its effect after it comes in contact with soda ash, but then why is it still leaving dye marks after the dye should be exhausted ?

Thank you everyone.

www.liveincolorworld.com
@liveincolorworld

[jwugg]

I don't have an answer for you, sorry, but just saying hello & Welcome to a new member!

[Pandagirl]

Welcome Liveincolor! I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you. But I wonder if the thickened dyes are fully dry before you wash and rinse? I've heard of people who paint silk sometimes iron the painted scarf to set the dyes. I'd check with the manufacturer for suggestions. I don't know what brand you're using but Jacquard has a good support board and so does Dharma Trading. Good luck!

[MTRuth]

What fabric are you dyeing? Silk? Are you talking about white areas that are being marked? When I use fiber reactive dyes, I let it sit for 24 hours. Then I rinse in cold water in a bucket three separate times. Then I use really hot water with a few drops of textile detergent such as Synthrapol and soak for an hour or two. The Synthrapol is supposed to take up any excess dye. Then I rinse in warm water in a bucket three separate times again. Then I run it through the washing machine.

The times I have noticed that I have transferred dye is if I leave different colors of fabric sitting on top of each other in the sink for a while. I try to keep colors separated if possible if I'm worrying about this happening.

And yes, I agree, the dyes should be exhausted but the only way to prevent it completely is to keep your fabric pieces segregated from each other.

[Shepherdess]

You might ask on Paula Burch's face book page. www.facebook.com/handdyeing/

[sundownalpacas]

I use Procion dyes for hand painting my yarns and alpaca fiber to spin. I have never used the thickening agent. My technique is I leave white space between color changes, knowing that they will run a little. It usually works without running together, I do let them sit 24 hrs or more then rinse. My experience is that they do not exhaust in those 24 hrs. When I use them for bucket dyeing of my fiber or yarns, they can go for a week or more. Yes the color becomes lighter, but it gives me gradient yarns and fiber.

[koffipot]

I haven't experienced this problem. What are you using as a thickener? Never having used thickener I'm afraid I'm not much help.

Welcome to the Forum.