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Post by blythwhimsies on Sept 21, 2016 11:03:40 GMT
Hi there I've been trying out some more painted roving and my results were far from perfect. The colours were blotchy in that there were intense sections and paler ones. I soaked the wool in warm water with vinegar for an hour, then laid it out on cling film plastic wrap to add the dyes. I made all my Eurolana dyes into liquid stocks when I first got them around 9 months ago now, and work from those, mixing them with water and adding vinegar before applying them to the wool. I pressed and pushed to get the dye to penetrate the wool before wrapping it up and steaming it for an hour. What I noticed was that the blue rinsed out, leaving some of my browns a bit paler than I'd wanted and the greens a bit too bright. Can anyone offer any sugestions for improving the reliability of my results? I wonder if the dye hasn't kept well in liquid form. www.flickr.com/photos/24232165@N03/29831117865/in/dateposted-public/www.flickr.com/photos/24232165@N03/29718178132/in/dateposted-public/
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Post by Pandagirl on Sept 21, 2016 15:21:16 GMT
It sounds as if you've done everything right. It could be the dyes have lost some strength. I've never used that brand. I assume they are acid dyes. You can try over dyeing them. How much vinegar did you use? If you over dye try adding more vinegar. What will you do with the roving?
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Post by halay on Sept 21, 2016 15:39:12 GMT
I've had just the same experience. As long as I intend to use this wool for felting I don't mind if the colours are blotchy. But I do admire others who get perfect and even colours.
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Post by MTRuth on Sept 21, 2016 16:29:32 GMT
Blues are always the last dye to set. So you will always lose more blue. You can add a bit more than you think is needed and that sometimes works. I do think that dye mixed 9 months ago could also be a problem.
I have found that with the method you used, you will get splotchiness. I think we had a post from someone who dyes hers in a pot and then adds the colors in after the wool is wet. That gives a more even spread of the dye but you have to be careful about how much you put in and how far it spreads. I haven't tried it this way. Zed, do you remember who this was? I was thinking it was one of your supplier posts??
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Post by Shepherdess on Sept 21, 2016 23:47:45 GMT
You seem to have done everything you should. I was going to say maybe steam a bit longer and let it completely cool in the wrap before rinsing. It is surprising sometimes how long it takes for heat to penetrate the wool fully.
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Post by blythwhimsies on Sept 22, 2016 8:34:42 GMT
Thanks for your ideas. I do get better results kettle dyeing but that tends to be with just one colour or possibly two and the wool can so easily become a bit tough in the process. I've just ordered a new set of dyes so will try making them up fresh from the powder.
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Post by Shepherdess on Sept 22, 2016 14:52:37 GMT
Sometimes if you give the dry roving a good shake after it has been dyed it will fluff up again. The wetting takes all the air out of it.
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Post by zed on Sept 24, 2016 9:23:16 GMT
They look really nice, Marian! I've had similar results even using just one colour, the wider you can spread your fibre, the more even it will be. I don't think it's the quality of the dyes, I've used left over Eurolana dyes months after mixing them up, even with the vinegar added, I've just added a bit more water and vinegar to them. I don't have the experience of Ann and Ruth, though with how long colours take etc, and I always use the clingfilm/steam method. I'm not sure of the Post, Ruth, it sounds familiar, the only one I can think it might be is Sara's Texture crafts, this was the post, but it's a video: feltingandfiberstudio.com/2013/11/11/meeting-sara-from-saras-texture-crafts/
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Post by MTRuth on Sept 24, 2016 16:03:53 GMT
Zed, I think that might be it. Hard to tell from three years ago.
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