Incorrectly Washed Raw Denim - Un-Even Dye Leeching. Please Help!! - Page 2

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post #16 of 23

6/2/11 at 5:48am

Danthemanhan

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Not sure if language barrier or just thick

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post #17 of 23

6/2/11 at 10:25am

Crane's

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Quote:

Originally Posted by parallelogram

Hey mellow, thanks for the response. Yes, they are 100% cotton. Is there a way to restore the colour, or even out the dye out across the pants. I was reading on Oki-ni that to even out the dye one should wash the jeans with a little bit of salt in the water: "If your jeans are heavily pigmented dry or raw denim, washing cold with salt for the first cycle should help to set any loose dye in the fabric." ---- does this actually work? I had acquired these jeans for formal wear, that is why I was feeling a little gutted. If they were my normal beater jeans I wouldn't be too worried.

The salt water rinse on indigo dye is an absolute urban myth. All any rinse is going to do is remove the loose dye which is not the same as getting it to set. Indigo dye sticks by electrolytic processes. In order for it to stick like a dye it needs to be at a certain temperature at a certain pH. When the dye is in an active state it is not blue. It's a yellow green in color. Once the dyed item is removed from the vat it begins to turn blue due to oxidation. For what it's worth this myth was spread by people who are trying to justify poor indigo dyeing techniques. The material has been either dyed to quickly (another sign of this is indigo cracking and peeling) or it hasn't been rinsed correctly after it's been dyed. Most of your excessive bleeding warnings is a result of poor post dying processes.

post #18 of 23

6/2/11 at 11:45am

Thread Starter

parallelogram

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Thanks for the post Crane. I read something similar to what you had mentioned in the Nudie booklet. Anyhow, the salt water wash did not work. The jeans are not totalled, but cannot be worn formally anymore. Prior to my first wash I ran out of Woolite, and decided to use normal soap instead. I guess next time I will be more patient, and less trigger happy. A great thanks to all those who have posted positive and helpful remarks. best rgrds, parallel..

post #19 of 23

6/2/11 at 12:21pm

grundletaint

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Quote:

Originally Posted by parallelogram

jeans cannot be worn formally

hmmmm......

post #20 of 23

6/2/11 at 4:18pm

Kurt N

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Quote:

Originally Posted by parallelogram

The jeans are not totalled, but cannot be worn formally anymore.

I fail to see the problem. Get some Rit fabric dye and redye them. Black or midnight blue.

Then sew a double satin or grosgrain stripe down each outside seam. All set!

post #21 of 23

6/4/11 at 2:42am