Dyeing natural fiber rope with Procion fiber reactive dye

 

DIRECTIONS

 

1. PREWASH (optional)

 

Prewash rope to clean it. Do not use bleach. 1/4 cup synthrapol can be added.

 

2. START WITH WATER

 

Put 3 gallons of warm to hot tap water into a 4-gallon tub or tamale pot.

 

3. ADD SALT

 

Add 3 cups of plain non-iodized salt. If your dye is marked with a (T), use 3 cups of Glauber's Salt (sodium sulfate) instead.

Optionally add  2 tsp calsolene oil. Mix until the salt is fully dissolved.

 

4. ADD DYE

 

Paste up 1 tbsp of the fiber reactive dye with some warm water and then add about a cup of warm water to make a slurry. Add slurry to the 3 gallons of salt water. Mix. Dyes marked with a * require twice as much (2 tbsp).

 

5. ADD ROPE

 

Slowly add about 100 feet of wet rope to vat. Stir for 20 minutes. (Some people suggest an hour.)

 

6. ADD SODA ASH

 

Dissolve 1/3 cup soda ash with 4 cups hot water and slowly add over 15 minutes while stirring. Then stir frequently for 20 minutes (1 hour for deep colors).

 

7. RINSE ROPE

 

Rinse rope in sink using cool water until almost clear. Then put in lingerie bag and wash it in washing machine using hot water. Optionally add synthrapol. With dark colors, a second rinse may be necessary.

 

8. CLEAN WASHING MACHINE

 

Do another wash with detergent with nothing else in washing machine.

 

9. DRY ROPE

 

Tumble dry rope in dryer. If rope has no core, a slight amount of heat is okay. Or just hang out to dry.