dcfrey
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by dcfrey on Mar 2, 2013 21:07:08 GMT
I would like to handpaint some white lightweight cotton I have. I will be using aniline based dyes, which is basically the only dye I can get here. I've never dyed cotton before, is the method the same as with wool? Does someone have any advice? Thanks in advance
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Post by jufergu on Mar 2, 2013 21:20:55 GMT
I like to use the low water immersion method in ziploc bags with procion dyes. Not familiar with aniline based dyes. Cotton is very easy to dye. You soak it in Soda Ash (Washing Soda) (Not Baking Soda) for about 20 minutes prior to dyeing. Wring it out and place it in a ziploc bag before adding enough dye solution to soak the fabric, but not floating. Leave it overnight and rinse. I put it in the washing machine after the rinse. If you have large amounts of fabric, you will have to use dye pots or pails for soaking.
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Post by jufergu on Mar 2, 2013 21:23:33 GMT
Ooops, I missed the part where you said "painting." In that case I would still soak it in soda ash.
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 2, 2013 21:49:14 GMT
Are the aniline dyes "acid" dyes? Do you use vinegar or citric acid with wool with this type of dye? If so, they won't hold well with cottons. The procion MX dyes are best for cottons. I would soak in the soda ash even so and give it a try on a small piece to see how it works.
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 2, 2013 23:19:50 GMT
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dcfrey
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by dcfrey on Mar 2, 2013 23:29:08 GMT
Hi Ruth, I don't really know much about the composition of aniline based dyes, but there's several types of them: ones for wool, ones for cotton, ones for silk and others are multipurpose. They are a very fine powder that you dilute in water prior to dyeing. For wool you do need to use vinegar and salt, but the cotton ones come with some kind of special fixative, it's a transparent liquid. I've never used the cotton aniline dyes, just read the instructions.
My "issue" with dyeing cotton is that the only time I tried this was a cotton plied yarn, and somehow only half of the plied threads got dyed and the rest didn't, so I got a pretty ugly two-colored yarn. I'm worried something like that could happen with the gauze.
Judy, thanks for the tip! That sounds super easy too. I will keep that in mind when dyeing.
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 2, 2013 23:59:19 GMT
If you are doing a solid colour make sure you squish it into all the fabric. do not twist the fibers up. when you do that the fiber resists the dye. that may be what happened with the Yarn. Make sure to start with wet fiber. Do you add the fixative before or after? if its before then it is probably the soda ash. you usually do these dyes at room temperature. to cold and they do not react, to hot and they react to fast.
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dcfrey
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by dcfrey on Mar 3, 2013 0:35:24 GMT
You add the fixative afterwards. I don't remember if I squished the yarn back then, it was like 2 years ago, but maybe I did. Or maybe I didn't wet it, who knows? I will try to find some soda ash and give it a try. I have no idea where to buy it though, I've never heard of it here, just through forums and blogs, and my mother has no idea what it is.... but maybe at the drugstore? no idea. Thanks everyone for the tips
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 3, 2013 0:47:16 GMT
washing soda is another name. it raises the ph. you can use the pool chemical called PH up. I don't know if you have that there.
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dcfrey
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by dcfrey on Mar 3, 2013 1:04:42 GMT
Aha! That sounds like something I could get. We have a pool at home and a man goes every now and then to clean it, I will ask him when he comes by. Thanks!
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 3, 2013 1:19:08 GMT
it will only work if they are fiber reactive dyes. They probably are. At least if it doesn't work you can use them in the pool. Do a sample
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Post by koffipot on Mar 3, 2013 6:56:16 GMT
Washing soda is Sodium Carbonate.
Momo is a member here and she space dyes lots of cotton with great results. I'm sure she'll be happy to give some advice.
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dcfrey
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by dcfrey on Mar 3, 2013 19:04:09 GMT
I think I will do small samples with and without the washing soda, when I get it. I think I will also try space dyeing, maybe that will be easier to start with? Never tried that either but I think I have a good idea how it's done.
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Post by zed on Mar 4, 2013 9:36:47 GMT
Wouldn't the dye bleed if you soaked something first? I know Ruth has done printing and thickened dye etc, would something like that be better?
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Post by koffipot on Mar 4, 2013 10:33:33 GMT
I used to paint on fabric. For silk, I used dyes which I acidified with vinegar, I washed and dried the silk first then stretched it onto a frame. There is 'bleed' unless you either thicken the dye or use a resist medium such as wax, rice paste, gutta etc to outline the design.
For cotton, I alkalised the dyes with washing soda,
You can also get some great effects by sprinkling salt onto the wet dye. I like the coarse stuff used in dishwashers best.
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