It just won’t work! The acid-dyed satin is as ripply as the Procion/soda ash stuff! It seems that the soaking itself breaks something down in the weave. The cloth even seems almost stretchy. And no matter how much and how hot I iron it, I can’t make it smooth and shiny again!
I guess it’s time to write to the companies. Is there something funny about this satin I bought? Is the synthrapol damaging the silk fiber as the soda ash seemed to? Or is it just any prolonged soaking that does this? If any of you have any experience dyeing silk satin and know why this is happening and how to avoid it, PLEASE TELL ME!
There is one more technique I could try: using Procion dyes but with vinegar instead of soda… in cold water. We’ll see. I think I’ll write to Dharma Trading and Silk Connection first. And wait for any wise words from any of you out there…
First response: Dharma thinks it’s something about how this fabric is woven… I think so too. Unfortunately, I still have a lot of it. Have to find a way to make it useful. Could try painting with the dye on stretched silk, then steaming. Seems like an awful lot of work… and still don’t know if it would work.
Here’s a pic:
Good grief, it sounds like the dyeing process is complicated. I won’t be much help to you as I haven’t dyed anything in at least 16 years…I’ll keep you in mind though.
Good luck!