| We’ve
had a lot of success using our Raycafix Dye Fixative to solve
stubborn dye run off from Procion MX and H dyes, Acid Dyes,
natural dyes and many more “unknown dyed” garments.
Last year
we started to experiment using Raycafix as a prewash to see
if it’d hold directly printed fabric using an ink jet
or bubble jet computer printer. At the time there were available
solutions from other manufacturers but we thought we’d
“play around” with Raycafix given the lower costs.
We actually
had decent successes so we kept passing out our little secret
for more and more people to try.
This technique
is geared towards quilters given the limitations on size for
home printers, but you can be creative for applique also.
1) Prewash
Fabric with TNA Soap to remove any dirt and sizing which prevent
the colours from reaching the fibers. You can hand or machine
wash, but you’ll find hand washing a lot faster given
the size of the pieces you print. |
2)
Cut the fabrics into pieces up to the maximum size your ink
jet or bubble jet printer can handle (8”x11”)
3) Mix
2 tablespoons of Raycafix to every cup of hot water.
4) Soak
your fabrics for 5 minutes. Remove and hang to dry. Wear rubber
gloves to protect your hands.
5) Iron
your fabric and then iron the fabric pieces directly to the
wax side of freezer paper.
6) Place
one sheet at a time in your printer and press “PRINT”
7) After
printing, peel off freezer paper and iron the fabric for 1
minute.
8) Soak
again in a weaker Raycafix solution (1 Tbsp per 4.0L hot water)
for 5 minutes.
9) Remove
and hand wash immediately with TNA soap. Hang to dry.
You’re now ready to use your fabrics in your next masterpiece. |