When dyeing my initial samples (1g or .5 g fiber), I use eight glass jars (heat resistant) numbered and positioned in a large metal pot (I use those heavy aluminum pots with lids typically used for cooking). A wire rack on the bottom of the pot keeps the jars away from the metal (to prevent the glass from cracking or tilting on an often-uneven bottom surface). The pot is filled with a depth of water (level with the liquid in each jar) and rests on the heat source.  Each 200ml jar easily accomodates a 100:1 (liquid: fiber) ratio with plenty of float room for the fiber. The heat is consistent for all samples (no hot spots as often found on hot plates) and is easy to control. When I am ready to dye the final yardage, the proportionate amount of liquid goes in one of several other pots (1 gal. 2 gal, 4 gal) so the fiber is always submerged with lots of float room.

Lots of little things encourage even dye take-up (e.g. sufficient pre-soaking of fiber to allow interstices of fiber to become saturated, appropriate amounts/types of leveling additives etc) but it seems that constant stirring makes a huge difference to the success of the dyeing. Getting an Ipod has helped me from going insane as I stand there and stir and stir and stir.

Virginia

--
Virginia J. Whelan
Textile Conservator
Filaments Conservation Studio
740 Hazelhurst Avenue
Merion Station, Pennsylvania 19066


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Frisina, Ann" <[log in to unmask]>
> Hi everyone.
>
> I use a pipette on a regular basis.  It is not uncommon for me to execute very
> small samples when testing colors or creating a dye library.  My results are
> usually very consistent.  I always  measure to one level above, i.e. .3ml and
> release only .2 ml for an accurate consistent amount.
>
> My problem is uneven dye application.  I have often resorted to increasing the
> water ratio allowing the fabric more room to move and spread out. Unfortunately
> I don't have a hot plate large enough to always do this limiting the yardage I
> can dye. Anybody have any low cost solutions short of buying a stove?
>
> Ann Frisina
> Textile Conservator
> Minnesota Historical Society
> 345 Kellogg Blvd. W.
> St. Paul, MN. 55102
>
> 651 295-3385
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Textile Conservators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
> Of Nancy Love
> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 10:00 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: dyeing small amounts
>
>
> Hi Textilians,
>
> Just to satisfy my curiosity... What weight fabrics
> are you dyeing?  0.2 ml is such a tiny amount.  It
> seems to me that this would be hard both to measure
> accurately, and for reproducing results, even with a
> syringe.
>
> Nancy
>
>
> --- Shirley Ellis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Has anyone ever used a syringe for measuring out the
> > very small amounts
> > of dye stock solution?  For example 0.2 mils?  Seems
> > like a good idea but
> > maybe there is some obvious reason not to that I
> > can't see.
> >
> > Shirley
> >
> > Shirley Ellis
> > Textile Conservator
> > Royal Ontario Museum
> > 100 Queen's Park
> > Toronto, ON  M5S 2C6
> > ph:  416 586-5878
> > fax:  416 586-8036
> >
>
>
>
>
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