Supplies
Sabracron F Reactive Dye
Synthrapol
PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash
Table Salt
Procedure
1. Scour the fabric by machine washing in HOT 140oF (60oC)
water, or by hand in a pot on the stove with ½ tsp (2 gm) PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash
and ½ tsp (2.5 ml) Synthrapol per pound of fabric (454 gm, or 3 to 4 yards cotton muslin,
or 8 yards 8mm China Silk, or 3 Medium T-shirts, or 1 sweatshirt). Rinse thoroughly. This
step does not add the dye fixative to the fabric; it prepares your fabric for dyeing by
removing any dirt, oil or sizing.
2. Dissolve dye. Thoroughly dissolve the desired amount of Sabracron F Reactive dye powder, from the following chart, in a separate cup, in 2 cups warm 105o to 110oF (41o to 43oC) water and set aside. This recipe dyes 1 pound (454 gm) of fabric. Increase or decrease the quantities for larger or smaller amounts of fabric.
Pale |
Medium |
Dark |
Black * |
|
| dye powder | 1 tsp (2.5 gm) | 3 tsp (7.5 gm) | 6 tsp (15 gm) | 12 tsp (30 gm) |
| table salt | 1 cup (225 gm) | 1½ cups (340 gm) | 3 cups (680 gm) | 3 cups (680 gm) |
| PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash | 5 Tbl (45 gm) | 5 Tbl (45 gm) | 7 Tbl (65 gm) | 7 Tbl (65 gm) |
To achieve a Deep Black increase dye bath temperature to 140oF (60oC) and extend the dyeing time to 90 minutes after adding the PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash.
3. Make the dye bath
by pouring 2½ gallons (10 liters) of warm 125o to 140oF (52o to 60oC) water for every pound (454 gm) of fabric into large plastic, stainless steel or enamel container. The container should be large enough to allow the fabric to move freely without spilling the dye bath. Add the appropriate amount of salt from the chart above to the dye bath and stir until dissolved. Add the dissolved dye and stir. Add washed and still wet fabric. Stir intermittently for the next 10 to 15 minutes.4. Add fixative to the dye bath.
Completely dissolve the appropriate amount of PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash from the chart above in 2 cups (500 ml) warm 110oF (43oC) water. While wearing rubber gloves, remove the fabric from the dye bath and pour in dissolved PRO Dye Activator or Soda Ash. Then give it a stir and return the fabric to the dye bath. Stir continuously for 5 minutes. Give the dye bath a stir every 5 minutes for the next 60 minutes.5. Rinse the fabric.
After 60 minutes dyeing is complete. Remove fabric from the dye bucket and discard the exhausted dye bath. Dye baths cannot be stored or reused after Dye Activator is added. Rinse fabric thoroughly in a bucket of room temperature 75o to 95oF (24o to 35oC) water. Change the water 3 to 4 times. Then wash with very HOT 140oF (60oC) water adding ½ tsp (2 ml) Synthrapol per pound (454 gm) of fabric. Rinse well and dry. Black and very dark colors may need a second HOT Synthrapol wash.© Copyright 2007