[MR] Setting Dye With Vinegar

[Tricia Donadio]

Here are some instructions I've used with great success:
(From SewingCentral.com)

Caring for your Silk (although it works with most other natural fabrics)
Many of these colors will benefit from additional treatment before 
prewashing. Soak the silk for 2 hours in as much of the following mixture as 
is required to cover the silk completely.

Red, pink, and black
2 gallons cold water
1 cup salt

Yellow, tan and brown
2 gallons cold water
1 cup vinegar

Blue, green and lavender
1 gallon cold water
1 ounce alum

Then prewash and dry your fabric. I recommend machine wash delicate cold, 
tumble dry low heat. If you cannot control the speed of your washer or heat 
of your dryer, please hand wash and hang to dry. Deep colors will run a lot 
and fade more. If you intend to sew a light color to a rich color, please 
make sure the fabric is no longer crocking dye before constructing the 
garment. Test this by taking a small piece of the fabric and placing it in 
microwave safe bowl or cup, covering the silk with water. Microwave until 
the water boils. If the dye crocks, prewash the fabric again. Red is the 
worst about crocking.

Good luck!
Padraiga


>
>--- ThatUrsula at aol.com wrote:
> > Greetings.
> >
> > Someone once told me how to set fabric dye by
> > soaking the dyed article in a
> > mixture of white vinegar and water, but I can't
> > remember the particulars.
> >
> > Does anyone tell me:
> >
> > What's an effective vinegar-to-water ratio?
> > Also, should the water be hot or cold?
> > Finally, how long should it soak?
> >
> > With thanks,
> > Ursula


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