Scouring Osnaburg

All of the information on this page was assembled in collaboration with the Facebook group Dyed Baby Carriers. If you have more questions regarding dyeing your baby carrier, join their group for assistance!

PLEASE NOTE: This is a CLEANING step, NOT the soda ash soak!!!

Scouring is Primarily for OSNABURG fabric

Scouring: to clean off the bolt fabric only, by way of boiling soap, water and fabric

DO NOT scour

• wovens, SSCs and stretchy (Moby) wraps- you can completely ruin your wrap

• clothing- unnecessary

• other dyeables- un-nessesary

• DO NOT use an aluminum pot for this step. Aluminum reacts badly with soda ash.

Supplies:A stainless steel or enameled pot is ideal. utility tub, a sink, or a large bucket, Blue dawn or Synthropol, Soda ash (please see Link for more info)

PRO Chemical & Dye Instructions:

1. Half a teaspoon (2 gm) of soda ash per pound of fabric

2. Half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) of Synthrapol/blue dawn/fairy per pound of fabric

3. Add enough water so fabric can move freely

4. TIP: one pound of fabric equals 3 to 4 yards of cotton muslin. Of course, heavier fabrics weigh more per yard. There has been success using 1 tsp Synthrapol/ blue dawn/ fairy (5 ml) and 4 tsps. soda ash (20 g) for each half-pound (250 g) of cotton.

5. Scour for an hour

6. Drain off visibly dirty water

7. Rinse with clean water. Using the washing machine for this step is acceptable- no added soaps or detergents. Spin dry and then your fabric is ready for the soda ash soak, or you can let it dry completely and hem it before soaking and/or dyeing.

External links to scouring and deep cleaning of off the bolt fabrics:

http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/dyeblog/C1691090068/E20111112132540/index.html

http://maiwahandprints.blogspot.com/2010/12/natural-dyes-scouring.html

-- Alyssa Leonard - 2017-02-17