These are the instructions supplied by the dye manufacturer.

Pure Concentrated Procion MX Dye for:
Cotton, Calico, Silk, Linen, Viscose, Rayon, Flax, Hemp, Paper etc.
(Also for Cotton/Polyester mixes to lighter shades)

TRADITIONAL METHOD – (known as exhaust dyeing)

1. Weigh fabric – dry weight, then thoroughly wash, rinse and leave damp.
2. Measure 2 litres of tepid water (40°C) for every 100gms of fabric into a bucket or bowl (dye bath).
3. From the table below, take the required amount of dye and pdv salt. Stir into dye bath until fully dissolved.
4. Immerse damp fabric and dye for 30 minutes, moving the material through the liquid every few minutes to ensure even dyeing.
5. Weigh fixer and pre-mix in a small quantity of hot water and, when dissolved, stir into dye bath being careful not to pour the concentrated solution directly on to the fabric (i.e. remove first if possible).
6. Continue dyeing for 30 minutes for pastel shades and 45 minutes for deep shades – check for shade required.
7. Remove fabric from dye bath, cool rinse until water runs clear. Finally – very hot wash with Colsperse or detergent until clear of all unfixed dye. Rinse, dry and iron.

EASY DYE TECHNIQUES – QUICK WAYS WITH COTTON (also for tray dyeing e.g. yarns and skeins etc.)

A quick and easy process producing first class results. For ease of working amounts are based on dyeing 50gms of fabric in 1 litre of water i.e. (for every gm of fabric you will need 20ml of water). Obviously when dyeing larger or smaller amounts the quantities of water, dye, urea, pdv salt and fixer should be increased or decreased proportionately.

Method: (*for black – see separate instructions)

1. Weigh fabric dry weight, then thoroughly wash, rinse and leave damp.
2. Measure 1 litre tepid water (40°c) into a bucket or bowl (dye bath). From the table below add first the amount of dye then the urea and finally pdv salt, dissolving each one before adding the next.
3. Dissolve the required amount of fixer into a small quantity of hot water. When ready to commence dyeing stir into dye bath.
4. Immerse fabric in dye bath. Dye for 15 minutes (pastel shades) and 30 minutes (deep shades), moving the fabric through the liquid every few minutes to ensure even dyeing. When required shade has been achieved, remove fabric from dye bath. Gently squeeze out excess liquid (use gloves). Open out fabric and make into a loose roll. Transfer to a plastic bag being sure to exclude air. Leave for a minimum of 2 hours – preferably 24 hours. Then cold rinse followed by hot soapy washes until clear of unfixed dye. Dry and iron.

*METHODS FOR DYEING BLACK

For an exceptionally dense black the Easy Dye technique described above is recommended but recently boiled tap water must be used instead of tepid water. Using the amounts shown below, proceed as follows:

Method A for dyeing black

1. Weigh fabric – dry weight then thoroughly wash, rinse and leave damp.
2. Measure 1 litre of recently boiled water, for every 50gms of fabric, into a bucket or bowl (dye bath) and from the table below add first the amount of dye followed by the urea and pdv salt, dissolving each one before adding the next.
3. Dissolve the required amount of fixer into a small quantity of hot water. When ready to commence dyeing, stir into dye bath and use immediately.
4. Immerse fabric in dye bath, occasionally moving the fabric through the liquid for the first 40 minutes, then cover dye bath and leave for 24 hours.
5. Remove from dye bath, cold rinse until clear, then hot wash with Colsperse or detergent. Rinse and dry.

Alternative Method B for Dyeing BLACK

( Stef Francis has found this to be the best method for dyeing large quantities of embroidery skeins)

1. Using a metal (stainless or enamel) container proceed as at 1 and 2 above (Method A).
2. Immerse fabric in dye bath and dye for 30 minutes, then raise the temperature to 60 degrees C and maintain for 60 minutes, moving fabric through liquid occasionally.
3. Remove from dye bath and finish as normal.

PRE-TREATMENT OF FABRIC

By pre treating the fabric with fixer rather than adding it to the fabric dye in the conventional way, the shelf life of the mixed dye can be greatly extended. A range of fabric dye colours can be mixed separately and stored in advance, (at a cool temperature) for several days. This is ideal for techniques such as tie and dye, space dyeing etc.

Method:

Dissolve 20gms fixer in l litre of hot tap water. Soak fabric in solution for a few minutes. When saturated, remove, squeeze out excess liquid and dry.

For Tie and Dye

1. For Tie and Dye – Fabric can be folded, twisted, knotted, or pleated and then tied. Dissolve 20 gms of fixer in 1 litre of hot tap water and soak fabric in solution for a few minutes. When saturated , remove, squeeze out excess liquid and dry.
2. Into 150ml (approx. 1 cupful of hot water) dissolve 10gmx (2 teaspoons) of urea and add 10gms dye (or more according to shade required. Premix as many colours as needed in this way. Apply to the tied fabric by brush, sponge, squeezy bottle or dip dyeing.
3. When finished seal fabric in a plastic bag to prevent drying out and leave for a minimum of 4 hours, but preferably 24 hours. Whilst still tied, rinse out excess dye, untie and hot wash until clear.

Method 2 – Using a plastic tray –

For intense bursts of colour sprinkle MX dyes onto tied, soda soaked fabric (left damp). For additional effects use fabric which has previously been dyed. Finish as Method 1.

TEXTILE PRINTING –EASIPRINT METHOD

Pre-treat the fabric as follows:-
Cotton – Dissolve 20gms of soda ash in 1 litre of warm water.
Silk – Dissolve 10 gms of soda ash in 1 litre of warm water.
Immerse fabric in liquid and allow to soak for a few minutes – Remove, squeeze out, allow to dry. When dry, iron using low setting.

Prepare the following:-
5 to 10gms dye – according to colour strength required plus 20gms urea. Dissolve dye in 100 mls of tepid water, then stir in and dissolve the urea. A range of colours can be prepared to the above formula for multi-coloured painting or printing.

Preparing a Print Paste – Prepare a stock solution by stirring approximately 100 gms Manutex into 1 litre tepid water
(an electric mixer will speed the process). Leave for 10-15 minutes before using. The print paste may now be added to the various dyes already prepared and adjusted with more paste or water to obtain the consistency needed for the particular printing or painting requirement. To fix the design use any of the following methods:-

1. Allow the fabric to dry slowly overnight then give a final fixation with a hot iron 120°C for 5 minutes.
2. Dry the fabric (a hair dryer could be used to accelerate the drying) then either bake for 5 minutes at 150°C or hot iron for 5 minutes at 150°C. To finish cool rinse at 40°C until clear. Adding Colsperse at 5 mls. per litre of water will greatly assist the removal of unfixed dye.

Salt – “PDV” or “Domestic”
Salt is a very important ingredient of most dyeing systems enabling dye to move out of the liquid onto the fabric. Whilst domestic salt can be used it might well be iodised and also contain other salts which will adversely effect the result, therefore Pure Vacuum Dried Salt should always be used for consistent and reliable results.

Colourcraft Soda Ash Fixer or Washing Soda
Colourcraft Soda Ash is chemically pure and of constant strength whereas washing soda can vary in strength by up to 50% and can also contain various other chemicals. This makes it difficult to calculate exactly how much is being added when dyeing fabric and this will have an adverse effect on the result.

SAFETY IN USE

Care should be taken when handling all dyes/associated chemicals – THE USE OF RUBBER GLOVES AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING IS RECOMMENDED. Precautions MUST be taken to avoid accidental ingestion, inhalation and skin and eye contact. Keep containers closed and away from children. Information contained in this publication or as otherwise supplied is believed to be accurate and is given in good faith, but without guarantee as we have no control over conditions of use and individual application.