Yarns are the wonderful interlocked fabrics that are primarily used in knitting, crochet, weaving, embroidery, sewing, rope making and in the creation of various garments. They are available in almost every possible color. The wide range of colors gives people the opportunities to mix and match and create incredible design patterns. Dyes selection is very important process for yarn and fabric manufacturer. In this article I will discuss importance and techniques of dyes selection.
They can be categorized according to the nature of fibers used in their manufacturing process e.g. natural, synthetic or a mixture of both. The coloring process, better known as dyeing, is also done through either the natural or synthetic dyes. A dyed yarn manufacturer will use animal or plant resources for the natural process chemicals for the synthetic process.
The dyeing process has countless benefits include not only being cost effective but one easy way of transforming your fabrics to look new. It is also a great way to renew the fabrics you currently have and enjoy each one year after year. The threads that are dyed at this level are proven to hold their colors for a longer duration. This process is mostly used to provide color to cotton fabric. Linen fabrics have also dyed through this process. The colored threads are mostly used in the manufacturing process of the woven fabrics.
The process is extremely important in the textile industry as it is the generally used to create gingham checks, woven stripes, plaids, and other various design patterns. The options are limitless if you use this dyeing process. Fabrics normally have a natural and soft feel after getting colored through this process.
The dyeing process of yarn involves mainly, pre-treatment, main process and post-treatment. The pre-treatment phase involves removal of dirt and various materials such as minerals, insecticides, pesticides, etc. Alkalis (Caustic Soda) and oxidizing agents (H2O2) are used in this phase. Stabilol P is used as a stabilizer for keeping H2O2 stable at high temperature.
Various leveling and dispersing agents are used in the main dyeing process. Alkalis, salts, acids and neutral soaps are used in accordance with the nature and the quality of the required dyes. In the after treatment phase, the yarns are treated with various types of softeners e.g. cationic, non-ionic and anionic to provide a better finish.
As said earlier, yarns are basically fibers that are used to create any type of garments either by hand or by machine. The age-old tradition of knitting and crochet is directly dependent on the quality of their colors. Many traditional knitters put a lot of emphasis on the color quality before starting their knitting process.
The choice of chemicals used in the dyeing process is a major deciding factor during their purchase. Nowadays, dyed yarn manufacturers know that the longevity of their products is directly related to the quality of its color. The dye should withstand numerous washing treatments. The quality of the product will be seen only after it faces various weather conditions.
The manufacturers have started to use a good mixture of quality chemicals and softeners to provide durable products. A beginner in knitting and crochet will not recognize the subtle variations in yarn dyeing methods and their importance. However, an experienced person will definitely check various specifications before committing themselves to their project.
Most people consider that natural dyes are not harmful. It’s not true always as there are many natural dyes present naturally that are proven to cause allergy and trouble to human beings. For this reason, you should try to know everything such as the various chemicals in the dyeing process before buying products from a dyed yarn manufacturer.
Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.