Dyeing of textiles
Practical Action
When the skein of wool is cool, rinse it thoroughly in several changes of water until the
water is clear, then wash the skein of wool in soapy water, rinse and allow to dry.
*Ordinary tap water is normally suitable for dyeing. If ‘soft’ water is called for then rain
water can be used. A plentiful supply of fresh water is always required when dyeing.
Source: The Craft of Natural Dyeing, Jenny Dean
Batik
Batik is a starch resist-dyeing process, developed on the Island of Java in modern-day
Indonesia. Colour is prevented from reaching certain areas of a fabric by covering these
areas with molten wax. The fabric is starched prior to the design being drawn upon it. The
wax is applied with a type of cup with a fine pouring spout, usually made of copper. The
technique has been developed to a high art form in Indonesia from where it is exported to
many parts of the world. Batik paintings, as well
as sarongs and lengths of fabric, are produced.
When the fabric is dyed, all waxed areas resist
the dyestuff. The wax is then removed by placing
the fabric in boiling water. For patterns with
many colours the same procedure is repeated
until the full design is completed.
Tie-dyeing
Tie-dyeing is another popular artisanal dyeing
technique. In this resist-dyeing process, waxed
thread is tightly tied around the areas chosen to
resist the coloured dyestuff, and the fabric is
dipped into the dye. The waxed thread is then
removed and the fabric dried. This process can
be repeated for each colour to be added.
Obtaining unusual colours
Wild
Mangosteen
Colours other than those obtained by simply using a single dye, can be obtained by mixing
dyes or dyeing a fabric more than once in different dyebaths. The colour triangle on the next
page is a useful tool in determining the colours needed to produce a required shade.
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