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Just what is 'Colorhue' Instant Set fabric dye, how is it different?

Why Dye?

Textilest hobbiest are always searching for color matching, whether it be for a lining to match the jacket fabric, pillow backing to coordinate with the room accessories or just that right color for a quilt binding. Textiles, thread, ribbon or trim manufacturers choose their own color palette, to make their product colors unique. This can be a problem for the textilest eager to blend colors and create their own color combination.

Therefore, 'the coloring of fibers' may answer some of these needs and the COLORHUE instant set silk dye just may be of some help. The following information about dyes and paints may be of interest to you.

The Difference Between Dyes and Paints

Textile dyes are coloring agents that bond with the fibers, are soluble in water and will not effect the 'hand' or feel of the fabric.

Textile paints, on the other hand, only bind to the surface fibers, and may slightly stiffen fibers or fabrics.

The Traditional Dyes (or as I like to refer to them ) Grown up Dyes

There is a long and complicted history of fabric manipulation and dyeing processes. However, the discovery of synthetic fiber reactive dyes in 1956 opened doors to artists wishing to explore color applications for fiber and fabrics. This lead to the experiementation and discovery of various ways to chemically 'set' the synthetic colors so they would become a permanent part of that fiber or fabric.

Such methods as steam fixing, heat fixing with added fixative chemicals became the universal norm recognized and practiced by the fiber artist amd silk painting community. The importance of adding a 'permanent color' to a fiber was an important requirement for the 'adult dyes'.

The 'Propritory Dye' (or as I term them) Junior Dyes

However, with the growing interest in fabrics for quilting, knitting, wearable art and fashion garments the hobbiest looked for easier ways to 'color' fibers and fabrics. Tea dyeing and uses of commercial products such as Kool Aid became the first introduction to those that wished fast and easy results to coloring. Soon,  new brands of dyes, sometime refered to as "proprietary dyes" were developed by a various manufacturers for a specific fabrics and coloring technique use.

COLORHUE Dyes

A new dye, VISIONART, from Switzerland was introduced in the early 90's but was later ldiscontinued. Iit was in 1996 that 'COLORHUE was developed in this country by a major dye manufacturer and distributor. The 'COLORHUE dye, similar to its

predecessor, is a fiber reactive dye with chemical reactions that do not require heat applications or added fixatives to give the desired colorationto to the fiber or fabric.

These newer types of 'coloring agents, understanbably, have not 'stood the test of time' for color permanancy, which hasllead to hesitancy (probably rightfully justified) by experienced fiber artist to experiment with dyes they may feel may be 'fugitive' in nature. Our test have proved that the COLORHUE is standing on its own, as far as colorfastness. Few natural or synthetic dyes can be labeled 'completely colorfast' when preserved improperly.

COLORHUE is a protein dye that likes the natural elastic qualities of the protein silk.  This natural phenomenon qualifies silk as the easiest and quickest and easiest l fiber to dye. Once the silk fibers are wet, they expand and are only eager to absorb any type of liquid( (and that can include, dye, wine or tomato juice) that comes its way. Because the COLORHUE is self setting, we hobbiest are delighted with the immediate results and beautiful color creativity it allows us.

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What is Colorhue? • How is Colorhue Applied • What Fabrics does Colorhue Dye? • Tips for Dying Large Pieces of Fabric • Silk Screening with Shaving Cream

Products

TIRE Silk Threads

TIRE Metallic Threads

Silk Ribbon

Colorhue Dyes & Lumiere/Neopaque Paints

Instructional Series of Interactive CD ROMs

Bonded Silk Batting

Books about Silk