Stamping and Steaming

[Kathy]

So some may have seen the "prayer flags" I posted in the gallery. Overall, I was fairly satisfied with them, though not completely happy with how the stamped letters came out.
 
My plan was to stamp with activated MX dye then steam set on the stove. Which I did. However, they did not steam set very well.

First off, there was enough steam and the pot was pretty well contained with a towel helping to keep the steam from escaping the pot. But it did not seem as if the steam really penetrated to the silk through the news print it was rolled in.

I had each square sandwiched between  newsprint. Was that too much thus making the roll too thick? Should I maybe roll it more loosely? Should I have steamed for longer(did 30 min.)?

Any tips for steaming small pieces would be lovely. I don't do it very often, but I don't want to not do it just b/c I didn't have good results the first time KWIM

Kathy

[steve]

Kathy--

It seems to me that somebody on the old forum, perhaps Karren Brito, mentioned steaming pieces right after dyeing--30 minutes comes to mind and one garment at a time. It might have been for cotton though. I just looked through her book and haven't found anything about steaming procion dyed silk.

Anyone remember?

Hmmmm--I wonder if I can dig up her email addy!

Steve

[Kathy]

Yeah, I steamed them right after they were stamped. I think the real problem was with how tightly they were bound in in the newsprint, hence the steam not penetrating all the way to them.
Maybe next time I won't roll them so tightly. Maybe do more of a loose fold type deal.

Kathy

[Jaja]

I did it only with Pebeo Soie, that are supposed to be steamed in dry steam for 3 hours.
For wool + MX + vinegar is 30 minutes enough. Silk should be similiar.
Why do you think that your flag letters are not set enough? Is there some evident problem seen?

PS: Jaja is here too.

[Kathy]

Why do you think that your flag letters are not set enough? Is there some evident problem seen?

When I rinsed there was slight backstaining, wh/ tells me that the dye didn't completely exhaust. Of course, I could be wrong about this. Also, where I read the directions(Elin Noble or Carolyn Dahl) for the steaming, it said that the pieces should have a slighty crinkled look. My pieces were not crinkled just creased along the fold lines.

For the prayer flags it is not do or dye if they are not completely set I suppose. They are not wearables, so they won't be frequently washed, but I would like to get the process right for other things.

Kathy

[Jaja]

Ooops, I have forgotten, I DID have used MX for silk. Here's the result. I think I did it according to Dharma recipe.
This wasn't probably critical for backstaining, but I think it was OK.