Soaking im soda ash before or after tying

[kdubd]

Hi there everybody,
This is Kyle and am new to the site although in the past couple of weeks reading through posts i have learned alot.  I have been dying for almost two years now and have done some awesome work.  I have been getting into intricate geometry folds such as 16 point mandalas using a lotus blossom tye method, and have recently been doing Batik on my dyes as well.  I normally soak my fabrics in soda ash for about 1/2 an hour and then let them dry, then do my tying.  My question is whether or not  I will get brighter color and better wicking on my fabric if i soak my garments in soda ash after i tye and do batik?  Will the build up of soda ash in the pleats cause the dye to react better with the fabric? will it also allow for a slower movement of dye? So many questions so little time to dye, any responses from experience will be greatly appreaciated.  PEACE

[ktaltre]

My experience with soaking tied shirts or fabric in soda ash and then drying, is the soda ash migrates to the surface of the tied piece and  creates patches that resist the dye. The dye beads up and falls off the piece. I have heard that maybe you shouldn't let the fabric dry out completely.
I use the activated dye method and dye either wet or dry. I don't like to touch soda ash with my bare hands and have trouble tying with gloves on. When I'm dying, I make up small bottles of activated dye from larger bottles of dye concentrate as I go along.
k. taltre

[steve]

My experience with soaking tied shirts or fabric in soda ash and then drying, is the soda ash migrates to the surface of the tied piece and  creates patches that resist the dye. The dye beads up and falls off the piece. I have heard that maybe you shouldn't let the fabric dry out completely.

I almost always let my fabric dry completely for greatest intensity. The key is to control the rate at which the dye flows from your bottle to match the rate of absorption. You need to "prime" the fabric with a little dye, then come back and reapply. Additionally, with bleeds, I have to really squeeze the dye into the fabric. Complete drying is my preferred method, although I am migrating to use of activated dyes at times.

With my method, I go through outrageous amounts of dye, but I get incredible intensity.

Steve

[steve]

My experience with soaking tied shirts or fabric in soda ash and then drying, is the soda ash migrates to the surface of the tied piece and  creates patches that resist the dye. The dye beads up and falls off the piece. I have heard that maybe you shouldn't let the fabric dry out completely.

I usually tie, soak, then dry.

I almost always let my fabric dry completely for greatest intensity. The key is to control the rate at which the dye flows from your bottle to match the rate of absorption. You need to "prime" the fabric with a little dye, then come back and reapply. Additionally, with bleeds, I have to really squeeze the dye into the fabric to cut through the caked soda ash. Complete drying is my preferred method, although I am migrating to use of activated dyes at times.

With my method, I go through outrageous amounts of dye, but I get incredible intensity.

Steve