Quote:
Originally Posted by Arctic Mama
Are you dyeing or bleaching? Just be aware, with the latter, that it will continually degrade fabric integrity without an arresting agent being used. Bleachstop is what I'd recommend (sodium thiosulfate).
Discharge dyeing can be a ton of fun, but it does require some fiber care compared for normal acid or fiber reactive dyeing. Have fun with it, I SO miss dyeing. Great creative outlet.
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In this case, I only used bleach. A couple of the tops had been previously dyed with dyes (using the Tulip tie-dye kits from Michael's), and I didn't like how the dye pattern came out. I had planned on redyeing them to change the pattern (I'd planned on using darker dyes).
I was aware that bleach deteriorates the fabric, which is why I used tops that would have otherwise been destined for the rag bag and the trash can.
Many of the tops are worn enough that my dyeing efforts were meant only to possibly get a few more months of wear from them (they were worn from wear, not previous bleachings. I never use bleach on my laundry).
I didn't realize that bleach deterioration wasn't self-limiting, however. Thanks for that information. In all the tutorials I'd read, and watched only thorough rinsing of the fabric was mentioned. I chose to wash the tops on the longest wash cycle with detergent and washed them twice. I assumed the damage would be permanent but not progressive. I'll have to get some of the bleach stop, though - especially if I ever intend to use bleach to discharge dye new fabric.
The experiment was quite a success, considering I expected only about half the tops to be salvageable. I will be re-dying some of the tops, either because the bleach removed too much color, or because I just think the effect will be intresting.
One effect that I want to try is bleaching an area of a black shirt, and then redyeing the area with colored dyes. Some of the effects I've seen with this resemble stained glass.
I only had one black shirt in the mix (I never wear black) and I didn't leave the bleach on long enough to redye those areas. I love how it did turn out though, so I won't be rebleaching it.
Overall, I was very conservative with the bleach. I diluted it first (about 3 parts water to 1 parts bleach) and the longest time any shirt went from bleach application to washer was about 15 to 20 minutes.
Ironically, the shirts that were stained the worst, I think came out the best. Two were kelly green "Ireland" graphic tees that I bought in a big & tall men's shop for St. Patrick's Day (two different years). I'd been using them for nightshirts (and I still will, because they're both a little too big to wear as tops). I figured if they fell apart or looked terrible, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
I'm hoping to photograph some of them to send pics to my family - especially to my sister (who got me into the tie-dyeing with the tie dye kits). When I do, I'll attach a couple of the nicest ones here.