Comments on: Dyeing - Rinsing out the fabric http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html Images and writing about my abstract contemporary textile art by Lisa Call. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:46:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-6136 Lisa Call Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:04:53 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-6136 Thanks Cathy - glad to inspire you! Thanks Cathy - glad to inspire you!

]]> By: Cathy Wilson http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-6124 Cathy Wilson Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:10:58 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-6124 Hi I have been working on dyeing for quite a while and your information on bulk dyeing and also on rinsing are new to me, fresh, wonderful, useful, hurray! Thank you for these! I'm going home tonight after school (I am an art teacher) and dyeing some fabric. :) Cathy Hi
I have been working on dyeing for quite a while and your information on bulk dyeing and also on rinsing are new to me, fresh, wonderful, useful, hurray! Thank you for these! I’m going home tonight after school (I am an art teacher) and dyeing some fabric. :)
Cathy

]]> By: Lesly http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5818 Lesly Wed, 29 Nov 2006 18:46:19 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5818 Wonderfully interesting to read about your process. Plus the photos are a real bonus and make it so real. I will be able to picture you doing all this now ... and wonder at how dedicated you are to do it! It would drive me nuts. But I guess its an integral part of how you make your lovely art. Wonderfully interesting to read about your process. Plus the photos are a real bonus and make it so real. I will be able to picture you doing all this now … and wonder at how dedicated you are to do it! It would drive me nuts. But I guess its an integral part of how you make your lovely art.

]]> By: Claire http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5786 Claire Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:57:43 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5786 Hi Lisa, Thanks for sharing your process, it is great to see how others do it. I have been using time delay to get gradations, although I find that the later fabrics tend to blue as the red reacts fastest. I have also been doing some dipping and wringing lately to get very solid colours. I also like your fabric storage bins. I need to invest in something like that, as my current system is a bit of disaster. Cheers Claire Hi Lisa,
Thanks for sharing your process, it is great to see how others do it. I have been using time delay to get gradations, although I find that the later fabrics tend to blue as the red reacts fastest. I have also been doing some dipping and wringing lately to get very solid colours.

I also like your fabric storage bins. I need to invest in something like that, as my current system is a bit of disaster.

Cheers
Claire

]]> By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5785 Lisa Call Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:51:06 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5785 Patty - yes - blue is my problem also. Some people recommend soaking the fabric in cold water overnight to get it to rinse out better. I've never tried this but might be worth giving it a shot if you have a whole bunch of blue - put in the washing machine with cold water - agitate for a while with synthrapol - and let soak for a while. Mechelle - I have a stack of those colored towels also - I wipe the floor up with them - they do seem to multiply. Tracy - wise choice. It is a ton of work - but it's fun also! Julie - I'd only worry about the temperature for the first few hours - maybe 4. After that the process is probably pretty much done. These dyes only bond to natural fibers - so if you flannel is 100% cotton you are good to go and I suspect it will take about the same amount of dye. You could do a few sample yards and see if you like the results before diving into all of it. Let us know how it goes! Patty - yes - blue is my problem also. Some people recommend soaking the fabric in cold water overnight to get it to rinse out better. I’ve never tried this but might be worth giving it a shot if you have a whole bunch of blue - put in the washing machine with cold water - agitate for a while with synthrapol - and let soak for a while.

Mechelle - I have a stack of those colored towels also - I wipe the floor up with them - they do seem to multiply.

Tracy - wise choice. It is a ton of work - but it’s fun also!

Julie - I’d only worry about the temperature for the first few hours - maybe 4. After that the process is probably pretty much done. These dyes only bond to natural fibers - so if you flannel is 100% cotton you are good to go and I suspect it will take about the same amount of dye. You could do a few sample yards and see if you like the results before diving into all of it. Let us know how it goes!

]]> By: Lisa Call http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5784 Lisa Call Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:41:28 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5784 Joyce - here is one website with info about the dyes: http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/eating.shtml "It is likely that consuming significant amounts of some of the Procion MX dyes would increase one's risk of cancer, just as with a number of colorings that were formerly allowed to be used in foods, but later found to be mildly carcinogenic and thus banned for this use." While she discusses the risk of allergic reaction to the dye powders, I also believe there is probably a similar risk of cancer if you come into extensive contact with it in this form also. I'm not so paranoid that I won't dye but I am careful and I won't sell hand dyed fabrics as I don't think the added exposure is worth the risk (plus it is just too darn much work). Joyce - here is one website with info about the dyes: http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/eating.shtml

"It is likely that consuming significant amounts of some of the Procion MX dyes would increase one’s risk of cancer, just as with a number of colorings that were formerly allowed to be used in foods, but later found to be mildly carcinogenic and thus banned for this use."

While she discusses the risk of allergic reaction to the dye powders, I also believe there is probably a similar risk of cancer if you come into extensive contact with it in this form also.

I’m not so paranoid that I won’t dye but I am careful and I won’t sell hand dyed fabrics as I don’t think the added exposure is worth the risk (plus it is just too darn much work).

]]> By: Julie http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5783 Julie Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:35:50 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5783 Lisa, I found your articles at just the right time! Being the adventurous types. My husband and I took a quilting class together this fall. While looking at fabric and mulling over ideas, we decided we wanted to make a quilt using hand dyed fabric. We bought a bolt of white cotton flannel to dye and use for a rag quilt . We live in Alaska, so it's never really all that warm (even in the sun) so we will be using the garage in December to do the dying. Up here most garages are heated, so I guess we will pull out the car and turn up the heat for a day (and nite?) to set the dye. My only concern is if the same amounts of dye will work for the flannel or do we need to use a stronger concentration? Thanks for being so generous with your knowledge and experience. Julie Lisa, I found your articles at just the right time! Being the adventurous types. My husband and I took a quilting class together this fall. While looking at fabric and mulling over ideas, we decided we wanted to make a quilt using hand dyed fabric. We bought a bolt of white cotton flannel to dye and use for a rag quilt . We live in Alaska, so it’s never really all that warm (even in the sun) so we will be using the garage in December to do the dying. Up here most garages are heated, so I guess we will pull out the car and turn up the heat for a day (and nite?) to set the dye. My only concern is if the same amounts of dye will work for the flannel or do we need to use a stronger concentration? Thanks for being so generous with your knowledge and experience. Julie

]]> By: Tracy http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5777 Tracy Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:23:47 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5777 Lisa, this has been a very interesting series of posts. It's been fascinating to see your process of dyeing fabric. And it looks like a ton of work, making me thankful that I never really took to textiles in art school!!! Lisa, this has been a very interesting series of posts. It’s been fascinating to see your process of dyeing fabric. And it looks like a ton of work, making me thankful that I never really took to textiles in art school!!!

]]> By: Mechelle http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5776 Mechelle Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:10:31 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5776 Love the idea of fabric for a dye wipe up rag - This will put and end to my crazy colored old towels that seem to keep growing in numbers!! Love the idea of fabric for a dye wipe up rag - This will put and end to my crazy colored old towels that seem to keep growing in numbers!!

]]> By: Patty Altier http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5775 Patty Altier Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:50:16 +0000 http://blog.lisacall.com/2006/11/dyeing-rinsing-out-the-fabric.html#comment-5775 Thank you for your washing procdures. I will try washing with cold first - maybe that will help with blue fabric. I have the hardest time getting all the loose dye out of blue more than any other color. Thank you for your washing procdures. I will try washing with cold first - maybe that will help with blue fabric. I have the hardest time getting all the loose dye out of blue more than any other color.

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