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ART / DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

Dyeing techniques

Objectives

  • To use a dyebath in a controlled way to change the colour of a piece of plain fabric.

Curriculum links

English National Curriculum:
Art: 4b, 5c
Design & Technology: 2a, 2c, 4a

Gateway story

The images all show aspects of colouring fabric.

Gateway elements

· Printing fabric in industry
· Dyeing fabric in industry
· Colour being adding using traditional Batik methods in Asia
· Rolls of yarn being dyed in industrial dye baths.

Industrial dyeing: This fabric is being dyed on an industrial site in Leeds, for use in football shirts.

Dyeing yarn: These rolls of yarn are placed on spindles, in a carefully arranged manner, to ensure maximum circulation of the dye through the yarn, and therefore even coloration. These yarns are then spin-dried, and further dried in a 'microwave oven' (see the activity Drying methods and removing water).

Batik: Pattern is created on the fabric using wax. When the fabric is added to the dye bath, the dye does not fix to the fabric where the wax patterns are. The wax is later melted from the fabric, resulting in a patterned fabric.

Approximate time required: 30 minutes (+ 60 mins dyeing/waiting time)

Resources needed

1 metre plain white or cream 100% cotton fabric (such as calico or old sheet)
Tin of Dylon Cold Dye of a deep colour (available from hardware, DIY and department stores)
Bowl or bucket
Old wooden spoon or stirring stick
1 or 2 pairs of rubber/plastic gloves
Apron for each person taking part

Suggested organisation

Adult demonstration with assistance from a few children.

SAFETY NOTE

Anyone taking part in this activity needs protection from the dye by using gloves and aprons.

Carrying out the activity

Carry out the dyeing demonstration as described in the instructions below. If not using the resulting dyed fabric for the Decolourising activity, the cloth can be divided into two pieces and half of it can be tie dyed. Both halves of cloth are put into the dyebath at the same time.

To produce irregular undyed patches, tightly bind string or rubber bands to sections of the material to exclude the dye from those areas. To produce circles, catch hold of the fabric and draw it upwards into a cone of material. Bind it tightly for several centimetres. To produce lines, pleat the material from end to end and then bind it tightly at intervals along the length of the pleating.

These instructions can also be used for dyeing the multifibre in the Comparing Natural and Synthetic Dyes activity.

  1. Weigh the fabric (1 metre weighs about 250g)
  2. Wash the fabric to remove any dressing.
  3. Fill the bowl/bucket with enough water to cover the fabric and allow some movement.
  4. Dissolve the dye with 500ml of hot tap water (as per instructions) and add to the water in the bowl.
  5. Add the salt or Cold Dye Fix now, unless you intend to use the dyed fabric for the Decolourising activity.
  6. Using the stick, push the fabric unfolded into the dyebath, being careful to eliminate air pockets and continue to move gently in the dye for the first 10 minutes.
  7. Leave the fabric in the dye for at least an hour.
  8. Remove fabric carefully from the dyebath and rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.
  9. Dry away from direct sunlight or other fabrics, then iron smooth.

Plenary

Discuss the need to weigh the fabric in order to use the right amount of dye powder so that the colour produced is the same every time, even if each batch of fabric is a different length.

Discuss the effects of tie dyeing the fabric, and why sections remain undyed (or why they have not, e.g. the binding was not tight enough).

Children can make a record of the demonstration using a strip cartoon or a more formal, illustrated report.

Extensions / links

Maths
A table or chart can be made to calculate the amounts of dye needed for increasing lengths of fabric. Less able children can use a 1 - 10 metre range, in half metre increments. More able children can use a 0.25 - 10 metre range, in quarter metre increments.

Science
The Decolourising activity makes use of the piece of fabric produced in the dyebath for discharge printing using Milton's fluids.

Science
Comparing Natural and Synthetic Dyes offers children the opportunity to dye a fabric made from several natural and synthetic fibres with natural and synthetic dyes. The effects of washing the fabric and leaving it in sunlight are then investigated.