Microwave dying silk with acid dye - can anyone help?

[penguin]

Hi all, I've been dying some silk hankies and tops using Jaquard pre-mixed acid dye solutions. I presoaked the silk in a vinegar solution, poured that off after about half an hour, dripped on the dye and then thou roughly squished everything to get the dye in. It all looked nice and deeply coloured.

I microwaved it on full for five mins and then washed it out and some dye has held but it's very, very pastel. Can anyone tell me how to get deep colours? The tops aren't too bad - hopefully you can see the pic, but the hankies are pretty awful!

Any help much appreciated.

I didn't thoroughly get rid of the vinegar solution first so don't know if that's part of the problem.

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[Shepherdess]

Did you ad an acid? vinegar or citric acid? You also need to keep it hot for long enough. I found it best to cook it for 2 mi let it sit for a little while( not enough to get cold) and then 2 more min through 3 or 4 cycles. You can do a bunch of different batches so you are not twiddling your thumbs waiting. It doesn't sound like you soaked them for very long so your dye may not have penetrated through all the layers of hankies, especially at the edges. I usually soak them overnight with a little soap in the water to help. The colours are pretty but you can redo them if you like.

Edit: I see you said its premixed so I assume that means the acid is in the dye?  I also forget to say let the silk completely cool before rinsing.

[MTRuth]

It may be the dye solutions as well. It would be hard to tell how strong they are since you didn't mix them yourself.

[penguin]

Thanks Ruth! I used white vinegar - but I didn't let it cool before rinsing and I didn't soak it for more than a few minutes so may try again overnight. The hankies and tops in the photo were in the same batch though, so not sure why the hankies were so feeble in comparison!

The hankies seem to be fairly evenly died ... Just pastel! :-)

[penguin]

Oh, silly me. The tops are just as pale when combed out! :-(

[Teri Berry]

Was the liquid clear when you rinsed them? If not and given that your colours are pale it sounds like the fibre hasn't taken up the dye. The dye solution typically goes clear with acid dyeing unles you are using excess dye to get deeper colours. I suspect Ann's suggestion of longer heating may help, I steam mine in sealed bags for at least 40 min.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

I also use Teri’s method of steaming the silk and wool in sealed bags for 30-50 minutes. Have never tried acid dyes in the microwave, only food colors.

[Shepherdess]

a canning pot and use the can lifter to put the baggies on.

[penguin]

Thanks everyone. The water was most definitely not clear so taking Ruth's advice today and leaving to soak for hours, and Ann's later on re longer heating. I'll let you know how it goes! Would much rather microwave if I can - I'm too impatient to steam! :-)

[Pandagirl]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it, but the microwave should be dedicated to dying when using acid dyes and not used for food. I usually soak silk at least overnight n vinegar water before dying. I also steam in plastic wrap or baggies for 30 minutes. Good luck.

[penguin]

Thanks everyone! The overnight soak and/or the cooling has done the trick! I do really appreciate all the advice!!

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[koffipot]

Yup, an overnight pre-dyeing soak is always a good start, no matter which fibres you are using. Silk fibres in particular take a very long time to absorb the liquid.

[penguin]

A REALLY long time! But it's proved worthwhile! :-)

[zed]

You should try wetting kapok or cotton then! Kapok was so impossible I contacted an outdoor clothing company about it, they were really interested and said they'd look into it.

[penguin]

Good thinking!