I made myself a swimsuit from some orange lycra, and the color began running shortly after I began using it. I thought it might have stopped by now...months have passed since it began running. Anybody here have any ideas for "fixing" the dye to the fabric? Thanks in advance...
posted by:
|
Seattle
|
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Mon, March 3, 2008 - 3:34 AMwww.dharmatrading.com/html/en...AA.shtml
I use Pro-Fix for Nylon from Aljo Dyes.
here's the site, but call them to order.
www.aljodye.com/main.html
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Thu, March 6, 2008 - 3:32 PMYou can redye the item. Soak in warm water baking soda and salt and put to dry over the oven to seal the color in. -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Thu, March 6, 2008 - 4:58 PMI don't quite understand the part about putting it to dry over the oven. Would you be so kind as to explain that part more clearly? Thank you... -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 2:01 AMredye, make sure the water boils and simmer it for a few minutes at least
rinse in cold water with vinegar,
then cold water with salt.
dry in a home dryer super hot for an hour.
and sometimes, it's just not going to set - not enough absorbent fibers in the fabric... -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 12:13 PMdomini,
I've always heard about the salt bath to help set colors, but I've never been clear on it. do you make sure to rinse the salt out of the garment entirely? or do you just rinse it in the salt bath then put it directly in the dryer, for the heat to set the salt in the garment?
-
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 11:40 AMActually what Domini says makes all the sense... I don't have a dryer so I did'nt think of it... So yeah put it in the dryer... -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 3:12 PMsalt baths do not set in colors permanently. Sometimes the dryer works sometimes not.
I'm a professional dyer and use fixitive all the time to set colors. -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 3:33 PMgood to know miyo, thanks. :) -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 3:48 PMsometimes dye houses do a bad job of not correctly setting the dye thus the running.
In my experience, cottons and rayons are harder to set. You can boil the hell out a cotton fabric but it will still run unless you fix it.
It's not really the absorption of dye to the fiber but how they dyed and finished it.
High heat is key unless you fiber react it, that doesn't require a fixative. Fiberr eacting takes longer to dye but the time it takes to dye it will set the dye into the fiber permanently.
anyway sorry for rambling. I have tons of tips n tricks in this tribe under Tips n Tricks to Dyeing,
:-)
-
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 4:49 PMI"m a bit dubious about subjecting lycra to high heat for a long time.. won't it denegrate the stretchiness? -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 5:11 PMI dye spandex a great deal in very bright or dark colors used in dance companies like ABT, Alvin Alley, and countless Broadway shows where costumes are worn 8 performances a week. It lasts. Of course you lose a bit of stretchiness over time but the same as washing it daily as in swimwear. -
-
This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 5:54 PMI was going to post and ask the same question about putting lycra in a dryer at high heat. So...it's ok then to do that?
I suppose doing it once wouldn't be so bad... -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 6:53 PMDyeing lycra/spandex in high temps is fine. Putting it in the dryer in high heat is NOT recommended.
If you choose to dye lycra/spandex I recommend using Disperse dyes. It will be fine to line dry afterwards or a cool setting.
A warning about home dyeing not including Fiber Reactive dyes, there will always be some run off of dyes unless you fix it afterwards. Dyeing spandex with Disperse dyes do not require fixing. Dyeing spandex with Acid dyes yields the best, brightest colors but needs to be fixed afterwards with a fixative.
Each fiber has a different set of rules; which dyes work best, fix or not. I usually don't like to put anydyed fabrics in a dryer unless it's at a low setting. Some fibers change colors slightly in the dryer, which in my business can happen as I have to match exactly what the client wants.
Please visit my Tips and Tricks to Dyeing in this tribe. There are over 100 posts that have many answers to your dyeing questions.
:-) -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Fri, March 7, 2008 - 10:31 PMyuppo.. it was the going in the dryer that I was wondering about.. thanks for all the great info! -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 7:49 AMI didn't dye the fabric, and really have no intention of re-dying it. I just wanted to fix the color so it doesn't bleed any more than it already has, more to keep it from potentially leaching into other fabrics it might touch. It's already stained the towel I take to the health club with me, but that's come out.
It's really more of a nuisance than anything. I don't mind if the color of the swimsuit fades, it's not that important to me. I actually cut two suits when I made the first one, and the second suit was cut from a different fabric. So...at some point I'm going to sit down at my machine and make the second one anyway.
Thanks to all who have contributed to this conversation. It's been quite informative...
: D -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 12:11 PMWhat is a good brand of fabric dye -
-
Re: When dye runs, what to do?
Sat, March 8, 2008 - 2:10 PMcrystal:
there are 3 main brands I use, 1 is the industrial standard and not available for retail. It's the purest form of dyes.
Aljo Dyes, Pro-Chemical both have an on-line store. They formulate their own dyes using a blend of industrial dyes.
Dharma Trading also sell dyes which are also very good.
What dye you use depends on the fiber content. For all this info see my Tips and Tricks to Dyeing post in this tribe.
If you are less likely to be picky, using either RIT or Tintex is fine though the dyes are not as bright and pure in color.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
