[Regia-NA] dyeing on silk

[Joy Cain]

It depends on a lot of factors...tussah vs. bombyx, the amount of gum 
remaining in the fiber and the kind of dye you are using. My experience 
that a good quality bombyx noil will dye as bright as silk top. Tussah 
silks are a bit different and it again depends on the kind of silk 
(antherea, eri, muga). Some will dye beautifully, like the prepared 
Chinese tussahs, and their color will affect the final color of the silk 
(in the case of tussah, you are dyeing over a color as opposed to the 
bright white of the bombyx). Treetops Color Harmonies are dyed over 
tussahs.

You just have to test and see. Last year I used my left-over easter egg 
dye to dye noil to be carded into other fibers for spinning and was 
generally pleased with the results. I also dyed some Chinese tussah with 
indigo and had a problem with crocking.

I recommend degumming all silk before dyeing, even prepared fiber, 
especially if there is any fish scent to the fiber (this indicates 
residual gum/sericin).

Joy

crmayhew@hotmail.com wrote:

> Am just wondering if anyone can comment on differences of dyeing on 
> silk noil versus other types of silk as far as colour saturation/depth 
> of hue go?
>  
> --charlotte mayhew