|
Reactive MX Zip Lock Plastic Bag Dyeing
General Information...
Reactive MX will dye all natural fibers. It is a professional, permanent dye. Dyed fabric may be washed or dry cleaned. These directions are for dyeing visually textured fabrics one
colour from light to dark using plastic bags, ask for separate instruction sheets for other applications. Use rubber gloves to protect hands and a disposable dust mask when handling
powders. Do not use dyeing utensils for food preparation. Keep dyes away from toddlers, pets and unsupervised children.
Fabric Preparation...
Reactive MX dyes will dye cotton, linen, rayon, silk and wool. It will not dye man made fabrics such as polyester. Do not use fabrics with a permanent press or drip dry finish, as the
finish forms a barrier that the dye cannot penetrate. Wash cotton fabric thoroughly with detergent in hot water, rinse well. Remove excess water. Wash silk in a pure detergent, raise
the water temperature gradually to hot then to a cool rinse. Use a pure detergent such as Joy or Ivory dishwashing liquid, or TNA detergent. Since silk is 30% weaker when wet do
not wring, wrap in a towel to blot moisture. Wash yardage before tearing into ½ yard pieces to control fraying.
Equipment...
1-plastic pail to hold 1 gallon
1-plastic dishpan 12" X 14" X 6"
1-set measuring spoons
6-plastic zip lock 10" X 11" bags
1-10 oz plastic cup
1-dye stir stick or spoon
1-long handled spoon
1-pair rubber gloves
Supplies...
1. Place the 4 tsp. Sodium Carbonate and ½ cup of salt into the 1 gallon container, add the warm water, stir until completely dissolved.
2. Stand the six plastic bags upright in
the dishpan and pour 2 cups of the salt/sodium carbonate solution into each bag. Make sure none of the bags leak.
3. Measure 1 Tbs. of the
dye powder into a 10 oz container. Add a small amount of the warm water and stir gently into a paste. Continue adding water and stirring until you have one cup of dissolved dye solution.
4. Scrunch each damp piece of fabric into a loose ball and set aside. Each pieced may be scrunched, folded or rolled differently for various effects.
5. Add the following amounts of dye solution to each bag:
Bag #1 - ½ tsp.
Bag #2 - 1 tsp.
Bag #3 - 1 Tbs.
Bag #4 - 2 Tbs.
Bag #5 - 4 Tbs.
Bag #6 - 8 Tbs.
6. As soon as the dye is in the bags add the damp fabric pieces. Immerse the fabric completely.
Squeeze out as much air as possible and seal the bags, then lay them on their sides
to surround the fabric with dye. Squeeze and massage each bag to help the dye absorb. For more even colour squeeze the bags frequently during the first half hour, for more
visual texture squeeze the dye through just once or twice. Leave the fabric in the bags for a minimum of two hours and over night for deep, rich colour.
Rinsing and Washing...
Open the plastic bags, pour the dye down the drain then squeeze the dye out of the fabric. Rinse each piece of fabric in cold running water individually to remove the initial dye. Then
rinse all the fabric pieces together in cool water until the water runs clear. Repeat using warm water, then do a hot water wash using TNA detergent, (½ tsp. per gallon of water,
about 2 Tbs. in a full machine load. Repeat until all excess dye is removed. It is important to get all the unbonded dye washed out of the fabric to prevent future bleeding. Do a
final rinse in cool water, add about 4 Tbs. of white vinegar to neutralize the sodium carbonate. Fabric softener may be added if desired.
Dry the fabric in a dryer or iron dry
on appropriate setting. Use spray starch for a smooth finish if desired.
Notes...
- The dye begins to react when the sodium carbonate is added, it will exhaust, (no longer be able to bond to fabric) about 4 - 5 hours later.
The exhausted dye may be poured done
the drain, although the amount of sodium carbonate is small it may be neutralized with ½ cup of white vinegar if desired.
When dyeing with Reactive MX Turquoise use Glauber's
Salt and warmer water if possible, also leave in the dye bath longer, up to 24 hours.
Rinsing the fabric is easy if a bucket is used under the tap to let the water run through,
then use the washing machine for the hot water wash.
If you have questions we would be pleased to help e-mail us at
info@opulencesilksanddyes.com
|
