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- A general rule of thumb for the soda ash is to use 100g or ス metric cup or 9 imperial
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- Tablespoons per 3 metres/yards of fabric. The soda ash is worked out on a per litre of
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- water measurement rather than the amount of dye used. For the scientific among
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- us, keep the Ph between 10.5 and 11 for optimum results. The only time this rule
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- doesn�t apply is if you are using black dyes which will require DOUBLE the amount of
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- soda ash. To work out exactly how much soda ash is required if you are dyeing
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- something other than fabric for quilting, e.g. towels, knickers, socks and dressing
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- gowns, simply use 5g per litre of water for pale colours, and 10g per litre of water for
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- dark colours. So dyeing towels a dark colour in a 10-litre bucket of water would
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- require 100g of soda ash.
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- To apply heat to the equation you simply use hot water. I find that hot tap water is
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- always sufficient. For those who like specifics, 35 degrees Celsius or 90 degrees
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- Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature to work at so that the reaction occurs within the
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- time limits set out in this CD. The reaction time of the dye depends on the water
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- temperature. Keep it at this level for a couple of hours and the reaction will have
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- occurred. If it is too hot, the reaction happens before the dye finds the fibre and the
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- colour is paler than expected. Essentially a waste of dye, and the energy required to
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- get the water that hot. Any cooler and the time frame expands exponentially and at
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- 15 C or 50 F could take a couple of days.
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- The amount of water you use is really up to you. You can use a low water method
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- described in detail on this CD. You can use the vat dyeing technique also described
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- in this CD. You can also dye in your washing machine. You must make sure that you
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- adjust the soda ash levels accordingly. You will find, after some experimentation,
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- that the amount of water you use will give you different effects with the textures of
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- the dye. The more water, the smoother the finished results. The less water, the more
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- surface texture on the fabrics. Experiment, have fun, and see which you prefer.