Scouring is the name for the simple process of cleaning the string, rope, fabric, etc. before dyeing, to rid it of oils, chemicals, and possible dirt that may be on it upon purchase.
Scouring can be simply hand-scrubbing the item to be dyed, in this case 5mm 3-ply cotton rope by Yarn Bee, and thin string. As in the photo, I used Dawn dishwashing liquid to wash it by hand. I rinsed it lightly under cool running water to remove most of the suds. You can also scour items in a clothes washer if you so choose. But it's important to use a pH neutral washer soap regardless of how you scour.
I tried other variations of scouring agents as seen below, including using soda ash alone, and, using both soda ash and Dawn to scour the pieces of rope. I also left a couple pieces completely untreated to see how well they would take the dye without all the fuss.
After the scouring was done, I dyed my pieces in a simple mix of onion skin and water for the times listed below. It's also worth noting that the use of aluminum or stainless steel pans makes a difference in the outcome of the dyeing process. I indicated this below as well.
Comments
Post a Comment