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Microwave Dyeing Free Form Colour Blends
Equipment And Supplies...
Plain white vinegar, Opulence Reactive Dyes or Pebeo Soie Dyes, microwave safe saran and dish or bowl OR microwave safe plastic zip-lock bags, a thirsty brush or an eyedropper to apply
the dye, rubber gloves, 100% cotton twine or sisal rope if doing tied patterns.
Step 1 - Mix The Presoak Solution...
Mix one part white vinegar and two parts water. Remove the scarf from the package, fold or tie it into the desired pattern and then
place it into the vinegar/water solution. When it is completely saturated, lift the scarf out and let the excess vinegar/water drip off. You may gently squeeze out some excess moisture but the scarf must be wet, not damp. Place the wet scarf into a microwave safe dish or zip lock bag.
Step 2 - Paint The Scarf...
You can paint the dye onto the scarf anyway that you wish. There is no right or wrong way, just remember that the scarf must stay wet. Some painting methods are:
Method A - To make striped patterns place the wet folded scarf into the microwave safe dish. Fully load your bamboo brush with dye and paint two or three colors side by side in stripes (parallel or diagonal) along the silk. For complete dye penetration "flop" the silk over and paint the other side matching the colour positions.
Method B - To make a webbed design unfold the scarf and arrange it randomly into "peaks" and "valleys". Load your brush with dye and touch the brush tip to the folded "peaks" in the silk. You will see the dye travel in a webbed design. Pinch the silk between you fingers anywhere you want to make more "peaks".
Method C - To make a "snake skin" design lay a length of cotton sisal rope over one end of a dry scarf and roll up the scarf around the rope. Hold one end of the rope and scrunch the silk from each end towards the center. Hold in place, wet in the vinegar water solution and brush on the dye.
Method D - To make a chevron pattern hold diagonal corners of a dry scarf and twist each end in the opposite direction until it is completely coiled. Wet in the vinegar water solution and paint on the dye.
Step 3 - Nuke The Scarf...
Place microwaveable saran wrap over the dish containing the wet silk and seal completely. We usually do not vent the package to insure the scarf does not dry and burn. Place a full
glass of water in the microwave beside the dish containing the scarf. Microwave on high: 3 1/2 minutes in a 700 watt unit, 4 1/2 minutes in a 500 watt unit. Remove from the
microwave...it will be hot so use oven mitts...cool completely before removing saran wrap or washing the scarf. NOTE: Cotton and rayon are microwaved about double the time of silk.
Step 4 - Wash And Iron The Scarf...
After the scarf has cooled completely remove the excess dye by rinsing the scarf in cool, lukewarm then very warm water until the water runs clear, use a mild soap in the warm water
wash.
Add a "glub" of white vinegar to the final rinse, put in a little fabric softener to eliminate static electricity if desired. Blot in an old towel to absorb water then press dry with a medium iron. We recommend that you protect your ironing board with an old cloth when pressing your scarf dry.
Tips...
The scarf may be processed more than once. You may paint a background colour or add additional colours. Follow all the steps but do not add any fabric softener. Begin over at step 1.
Do not put fabric paints or any synthetic materials that are not microwave safe into the microwave.
We find that cottons may be successfully set in the microwave but the processing time is usually longer. Pebeo Soie Dyes will not dye cottons.
It is important that the fabric does not dry out while being nuked as it will burn. Easily avoided if you stop the microwave and check it during processing.
Fabric may be painted flat if laid over saran, be sure the saran is large enough to roll up and seal completely.
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