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tiedyejudy
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« on: February 20, 2006, 01:39:56 AM » |
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Hi! I have used the microwave to dye my silks, but have not had the nerve to try Shibori yet. My past attempts at shibori were on cotton, and I wrapped the items on large diameter pvc pipe sections. I'm wondering if anyone has done this in the microwave. I'm concerned that I might release toxins from the pvc....
Judy
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Kathy
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« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2006, 04:07:30 PM » |
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I am not sure about the release of toxins but you won't be eating the piece will you?  Sorry about the sarcasm! How big are the pipes? Could you stove-top steam them instead of doing them in the microwave? Kathy |
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tiedyejudy
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« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2006, 02:48:24 AM » |
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Hi, Kathy. I have yet to try stovetop steaming. I actually bought a large stockpot several years ago with the idea of trying the process, but it just seems so overwhelming to do all the newsprint stuff and the aluminum foil, and the towel, and the sitting around forever while it steams. Am I blowing it out of proportion? I know you do a lot of silks.... do you steam them all on the stove?
Judy
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Kathy
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« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2006, 03:33:22 PM » |
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I have steamed things maybe twice, though I have a stock pot to do it in. When I have done the steaming though it is not terribly involved(and an excuse to sit and read a book while you wait ) I might compare teh anxiety over its seeming complexity to how new dyers feel when they first se the steps to using mx dye and dyeing...looks REALLY complex and involved when in all actuallity it is not. Kathy |
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tiedyejudy
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« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2006, 08:44:02 AM » |
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Forgot to answer you on this one, Kathy. My biggest piece of pipe is probably 4" diameter by 14" long. Obviously, I would have to use short pieces in the microwave, since mine has a carousel. On another note, if you don't stovetop steam your silks, how do you set the dyes? I thought silks had to have heat for the dyes to set correctly. Do you just use the steam iron?
Judy
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Kathy
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« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2006, 09:03:52 AM » |
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On another note, if you don't stovetop steam your silks, how do you set the dyes? I thought silks had to have heat for the dyes to set correctly. Do you just use the steam iron?
Judy The beauty of silk is that it can be dyed with MX dyes either with acid or an alkaline. I do my silks as you would do your cotton shirts. For the most part I batch set them. There are times though that I am either in a hurry or anxious to see the final result, so I steam them in the microwave. Kathy |
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Jaja
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« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2006, 04:42:41 AM » |
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Judy, why not try to do it as Japanese? They simply take the silk of the pole. It could be done with PebeoSoie, maye it would work with MX too - just let it dry. (I haven't tested this yet, so take small piece first for testing)
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tiedyejudy
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« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2006, 10:04:04 AM » |
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I have used the batch method on cotton, but have been under the misconception all this time (several years now) that silk had to be steamed in order to set the dye. However, now that I know different, I will try it!
Judy
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Jaja
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« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2006, 01:13:51 AM » |
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I just wrapped it in soft paper, roll it vertically and horizontally, wrap it in plastic foil and steam it. (it works for pebeoSoie)
It means that you heat it but inside it is dry. You can give it a try it it works
with MX as well.
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Kathy
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« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2006, 05:39:59 AM » |
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Judy,
I believe it is Carolyn Dahl in Transforming Fabric who gives a little tutorial on making a simple home steamer. One is the basic crockpot method you are probably familiar with. The other is an adaption of this for larger fabrics is using a length of stove pipe or a/c duct pipe placed in the canning pot with the rolled fabric suspended in this(the fabric is inside another tube that is suspendedinside the stove pipe. She has a nice diagram that shows the simplicity of it.
Anyways...steaming cotton pieces is not uncommon when they have been painted with MX dyes. Really, the steaming provides the heat and moisture source and b/c both are at a more intense amt. than with batch curing, the cure process requires much less time.
Kathy
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tiedyejudy
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« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2006, 02:06:05 AM » |
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Let me just be sure I understand the alkali batch method you are describing. Basically it is the same as when we dye cotton? Soda ash, dye, cover and set for 24 hrs or so, right? Because to be very frank, the stovetop steamer for some reason is very unnerving to me. I probably have an underlying fear that I will run off to do something and forget it's on the stove, and will come back to a disaster. I'm not very good at sitting and waiting! So if I can get the same results with batch, I'll try that... at least I don't have to babysit it!
Judy
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Jaja
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« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2006, 05:46:46 AM » |
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I tried that too, but I didn't like the colors I got.  |
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Kathy
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« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2006, 01:28:45 PM » |
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Judy, Yep, it is the same way you would batch your t-shirts  Kathy |
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