Csferra was the winner by email entry which allowed me to reply directly. The chart with the four troublemakers is heading out!!
Today I bleached two large pieces of unbleached 28 count and am happy with the result. A very neutral lighter tan, still brownish, not at all too light. The original fabric is the folded piece, decided to only lighten two at this time.
This has happened before and I never did find an answer. The water in this bucket was from the very light wash I gave the linen to get rid of that water repellent finish. It's like sizing on most fabrics and I always remove it before dye/bleach. Since this linen was unbleached, this brown water can't be from excess dye, so what is it? Stored in plastic yet the wash water is always dirty. Are we stitching on dirty linen? Does the unbleached retain a residue since it is not processed as those dyed and bleached? Is natural or raw the same as unbleached? Any thoughts?
Remember when I took apart my older samplers and realized how dirty the glass had become? Professionally framed with sealed backs, yet this film can really obscure the stitchery. What an enormous difference once that glass was cleaned. My earlier stitching was all unbleached so I can't say if the other linens emit the same off-gasses. Would this be reduced if washed first? Does the finish I find (almost water repellent) on the fabric contain something that adds to this? I'm just full of queries tonight. And I expect answers.
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5 comments:
Weird how the water colord after washing out the fabric.
Could be a possibility that something is in the fabric where we do our sritching on.
When I buy new cloths I always wash these before wearing after reading that in the containers where they are shipped in will be some stuff for protecting against beatels and so.
Enjoy your stitching on Ann
Greetings, Truus from Holland
I've woven with unbleached linen thread. When I washed the piece, I got the same dark water. I think it's just the nature of the beast when you're using unbleached linen. Unless it is bleached, there is a lot of color in the thread that you have to wash out of the fabric. Bleached or not, once I've cut a piece to size and hemmed it, I always give my linen a wash just to get the sizing and factory grunge off and make the piece more pliable. The "dirt" on the glass on your piece probably came from salts and minerals in the dyes gassing off the threads in your pieces - which is why I'm always leery of having embroidery behind glass. If you have to have glass, always have a spacer and a mat to make sure the glass never touches the piece.
Part of me would think that natural and bleached/dyed linens would receive the same finishing techniques like sizing. But would those turn water brown? Isn't part of making linen threads using chemicals to break down the stuff that holds the fibers together? I wonder what chemicals is in that process, maybe some of that remains if the bleach/dye steps are skipped? This is entirely speculation on my part. I have NO idea, and am looking forward to what those in the know say.
When it comes to framing, is it ever a good idea to have anything right against the glass? I know stitches can get squashed, photos can stick...
Linen is made from flax plants. I think that is why the wash water is brown. Like if you soaked dried leaves the water would be brown.
Congrats to your lucky winner. And....hmmmm....have no flipping clue on the wash water....I am sure the natural nature of the flax used to make linen has something to do with it....but I am no textile expert. Heck I'm not an expert of any kind these days. ~Robin~
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