Porcion Dye

Important Information

• PROCION DYES are Fibre-reactive dyes for natural fabrics and usually comes in powder form. 
• It's Particularly effective on cellulose based fibres (eg cotton, linen, viscose) and can be lighter and less predictable on wool and silk. 
• Procion dyes produce Bright, clean, permanent colours. 
• Colours are intermixable, and one colour can be dyed over another.
• considered non-toxic when used correctly, but a face mask and gloves are recommended.
• Keep records of quantities and proportions if colours have to be reproduced.

Procion Auxiliaries

UREA

hygroscopic agent to keep moisture in the fibres which is necessary for the setting process. Not necessary for bucket-dye method.

CALGON

neutralises the metallic salts of tap-water. Particularly necessary in hard water
areas, though worth using everywhere to increase the dye uptake. Available easily and cheaply from the supermarket.

SODA ASH, WASHING SODA or BICARB

causes a chemical reaction in the presence of heat and moisture to fix the dye. Washing soda and bicarb are available from the supermarket.

METAPEX or SYNTHRAPOL

detergent which prevents colour contamination during the rinse process by consolidating the remaining dye so that it will not set into other areas while rinsing. Also can be used to scour the fabric prior to dyeing instead of standard detergents.

MANUTEX or SODIUM ALGINATE

a thickening agent to convert Procions into a paste for direct painting, screen- or block-printing. In powder form.

SUPERCLEAR

a thickener based on tannins, available already made up in a jar.

There are several ways to dye a fabric using Procion dye i.e bucket dying, painting directly and using a washing machine. You can also produce a thick paste for printing and painting.

Bucket Dying

Work on the basis of about 5gms (roughly one teaspoon) of dyepowder for strong colour on 100gms dry fabric. Use proportionally less powder for lighter shades.

• Weigh dry fabric and then wash to remove fabric dressing, dirt or grease.
• Fill a container with enough hot water to comfortably cover the fabric and allow for movement through stirring eg 3 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket.
• For every 3 gallons of water add about 400gms ordinary salt. Add the dye powder.
• When both completely dissolved, add wet fabric and stir for 20mins.
• In separate container dissolve 100-200gms soda ash/washing soda for every 3 galls of water in dye bath.
• When completely dissolved add to the dyebath one-third at a time at 5 min intervals, stirring as you add it. DO NOT POUR DIRECTLY ONTO FABRIC.
• Continue stirring every 5mins over the next 50mins for strong colours. Reduce this time if you require lighter shades.
• Remove from dyebath and rinse in cold water until clear. Finally wash in hot water with detergent or Synthrapol. Rinse and dry.

Direct painting

In advance, make up a 1litre bottle of Chemical Water, and a 1litre bottle of Washing Soda Water (recipes below). These can be kept more or less indefinitely, ready for when you need them for making up small quantities of dye for painting.

• CHEMICAL WATER RECIPE
  Dissolve 36tsps (about 180-200gms) UREA, and 1tsp CALGON in 1Litre warm water.
• WASHING SODA/SODA ASH WATER
  Dissolve 500gms Washing Soda
  OR
  200gms Soda Ash
  into 1Litre hot water.

Thick paint/paste

Option 1:
Sprinkle 9tsps MANUTEX powder or 4.5tsps SODIUM ALGINATE powder over the 1Litre Chemical Water. Whisk until smooth. Let stand for one hour then stir. Leave in fridge overnight. Once made up the thickened chemical water will keep for one month if stored in a cool,dark place. Add to the dye powder in the palette with the WASHING SODA WATER as for the above recipe.
Option 2:
Make up the dye solution in the palette as for FREE FLOWING COLOUR.
Add SUPERCLEAR to the solution. Superclear is a thickener that is available in a jar ready to add when you want it. It can be added in proportions as desired - a little to reduce the flow of the colour, more to stop the flow as for block-printing.
In either case, treat the completed fabric as for FREE FLOWING COLOUR to fix the colour.
Experiment with mixing and blending colours. Dye and over-dye fabric. Use brushes, sponges or foam brushes to apply colour. Drop colour onto fabric using nozzle-bottles, pipettes and syringes. Paint or drop over tied or wax-resisted fabric. Use print-blocks with thickened dye.

http://www.artvango.co.uk/products/techniques/procion-dyes.html