dyeing nylon
Eric Curtis
recently on dyeing nylon.
Kool-Aid and other food dyes are forms of acid dyes that can be used to
dye ripstop nylon, but this does not mean that they are the best source
for the dyes. I wrote the Kool-Aid article in Kitelines for a North
American audience, knowing that the product was available in every
corner grocery store, and that it was an amusing trick. When printing
and painting nylon in our studio, we buy powdered acid dyes from:
Pro Chemical Inc.,
P.O. Box 14,
Somerset, MA,
U.S.A.
02726
Ph: 508-676-3838
Fax: 508-676-3980
There may be similar craft level suppliers of dyestuffs in your area.
Often the local spinners and weavers can point you to dye suppliers. You
can also try contacting the manufacturers directly. I.C.I., Ciba-Geigy,
Hoechst, Sandoz, & B.A.S.F. all produce acid dyes. They will probably
steer you to a repackager, if they'll talk to you at all.
In relation to Jason's description of his method of vat dyeing, he
refers to using a 'canning jar'. In order to get even colour, the fabric
has to be in sufficient volume of dyebath to be moved about freely. I
suspect his results would be better if he used a large open stainless
steel or enamel pot and brought the dye right up to the boiling point. I
have tried painting with dilute cake decorating dyes and have had
erratic results. I really suggest trying to find actual dye powder. If
anyone has any questions feel free to contact us. We've already made
most of the mistakes you're about to.
Eric Curtis & Anne Sloboda Boreal Kites
eric....@homebase.com Sparta, Ont., Canada
* OLX 2.1 TD * CANADIAN DOS: Format c:? Yer sure, eh? [S]ure [N]o-way
Hayden1009
(Eric Curtis) writes:
>In relation to Jason's description of his method of vat dyeing, he
>refers to using a 'canning jar'. In order to get even colour, the fabric
>has to be in sufficient volume of dyebath to be moved about freely.
The reason I mentioned the Kool-aide in a jar was specifically to get a
"tie-dyed" type of effect. It was something we did with T-shirts at
summer camp in the late 60's (including using the sun to heat the stuff)
and it works great. I've since used the technique (with commercial dyes
on wools, then spinning the stuff gives a georgous heather yarn). I've
been planning to do the same type of dying with white sails I've made,
with my nieces and nephews.
Alice Hayden 8^)