Shana
Full Member
Posts: 108
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Post by Shana on Nov 6, 2016 13:27:32 GMT
I know a lot of spinners tend to use citric acid for dyeing instead of vinegar, Shana, but it also seems quite expensive unless bought in bulk. I've used the citric acid for dyeing too, with pretty fabulous results. 6 tsp per gallon of water. And since I only dye wool a couple of times a year, I don't mind trading a few extra pennies for the pleasant smell.
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 6, 2016 14:07:37 GMT
I have used citric acid for dyeing but not for rinsing.
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Post by elizabeth on Nov 6, 2016 14:35:33 GMT
Shana, do you have any examples of your dyeing? I'd love to see some excellent results!
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Shana
Full Member
Posts: 108
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Post by Shana on Nov 7, 2016 14:04:17 GMT
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKQr0vzBceh Here's the last batch. I used very very old pre-mixed Pro-chem acid dyes that had been sitting in a warm garage for a year and wasn't sure if it would take. Soaked the roving in citric acid for about an hour, cold poured the dye and microwave set. Rinsed the following day. *Love the Instagram embed link! That was easy
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 7, 2016 19:41:02 GMT
Shana, would you mind adding "how to post an Instragram photo" in the FAQ section? People are always looking for easy ways to post photos here.
Your dyed roving looks great.
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Post by triciaf on Nov 8, 2016 13:36:34 GMT
Beautiful effects, Shana!
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Post by tracey on Nov 8, 2016 13:42:25 GMT
Gorgeous gorgeous colours.
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Post by lyn on Nov 22, 2016 1:07:51 GMT
Has anyone made felt then not rinsed it at all - just let the felt dry with the soap in it? How did the felt last? I once knew a textile artist who made felt then stitched all over it. Interestingly she never rinsed her felt but she was confident enough to sell her works of art.
Reason I'm asking is because I'm making something and I fear that I will not be able to re-shape it after I've drowned it!
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Post by Shepherdess on Nov 22, 2016 1:16:07 GMT
I usually try to rinse it before the final shaping. I don;t usuly have to rinse much. My hard water kills the soap. If your soap was neutral or acid then it should be fine. It's alkaline that protein fibers do not like.
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Post by lyn on Nov 22, 2016 1:25:02 GMT
Thank you Ann. I use olive oil soap from Wingham Wool Co - I need to find out if it's alkaline (I wish I'd paid attention in the science lesson at school!). olive oil soap
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Post by tracey on Nov 22, 2016 7:11:46 GMT
Lyn, I get this soap from Holland and Barrett £1.29, keep an eye out for deals, the penny sale etc. More pennies to spend on wool!
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Post by lyn on Nov 22, 2016 10:53:27 GMT
Thank you for the tip Tracey!
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Post by lyn on Nov 22, 2016 12:18:27 GMT
I asked Wingham about the ph of the soap but they are not the manufacturer so were unable to say. It's said that a little knowledge is dangerous and a little knowledge is all I have after googling info until my eyes were googly! So I'd appreciate any input anyone might have! Tap (drinking) water falls into the neutral zone, approx ph7, and good olive oil soap comes in with a ph value of approx 9-10. So my thinking is this: It's mostly water that goes into the felt with some soap, so would the soap and water solution be at the top end of the neutral ph? ph scale
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 22, 2016 17:54:58 GMT
I'm thinking that the pH shouldn't be that big an effect unless we're talking hundreds of years. I can't imagine that it makes that much difference. You could just not use soap at all, it would take longer to felt but you don't have to use soap to felt something.
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Post by lyn on Nov 22, 2016 18:58:17 GMT
Thank you Ruth. I've been felting with soapy water for so long that I didn't even give felting-without-soap a thought!
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