BASIC FILE PREP + WEAVE STRUCTURES

Basic Structures for New Weavers

For this semester's in-class hand-painted MX dye workshop, we will be working from dye concentrates, so our process will be a little different than in this worksheet. Work on the metal tables in the dye kitchen.

The general steps for direct application of MX dye to a hand-woven cloth are:

1. Apply the dye activator to the cloth. If you are only applying dye to a small area, you only need to (generously) apply the dye activator to that area. If you are painting the entire cloth, you can soak the whole cloth in a bucket of dye activator for at least 15 minutes, then wring out. Dye can be applied while cloth is still wet or damp (dye will run/spread) or when it has completely dried. Do not put this chemical-covered cloth in the dryer! Use a blow dryer or fan to dry the cloth or allow to line dry after thoroughly wringing out.

2. Dye can be applied as a liquid or using a bit of thickener (sodium alginate). A more precise application of dye will be possible when thickened. See the worksheet for the thickener recipe- it will take some time to "set up" so mix it before doing any of the other steps.

Using a sponge brush or paint brush, apply the dye as desired. Allow to dry flat- use a blow dryer or fan to speed the process. Heat is helpful to the dye-setting. 

3. When completely dry, "batch" set your dye: 

Roll the cloth with newsprint, wrap it tightly in plastic and tape sealed. You can use a plastic bag, saran wrap, or any other plastic sheeting, should be air-tight. Leave in a warm place for 24 hours- for example, in the sun on a window sill or any other place warmer than 70 degrees. The heat helps set the dye.

4. Rinse: In the sink, fill a 5 gallon bucket 3/4 high with cool water, add a few drops of the Fiber department concentrated fabric soap. Carefully add your dyed cloth, allowing room for it to move freely, and agitate (pretend that you are a washing machine). After a couple minutes, pour out the water, gently wring your fabric, and repeat once more with soap, and several more rounds of just agitating and rinsing until the water runs COMPLETELY clear. If you added a lot of dye to your cloth, you will be doing many rounds of rinsing.

5. Dry: Once the rinse water runs COMPLETELY clear- place cloth in spin dryer- lay out the weight of the cloth evenly around the circumference of the spinner. SPIN! If the flushed water has color, stop immediately and return to rinsing your cloth. Empty water catcher in the sink when done. Cloth can now be line dried.