Originally Posted by
Anna from Oz
Thanks Val, your method is simple and it works for you. I guess the black ink would stay and not wash out. I did notice with my experiments even when I starched the calico, the black ink but the colours washed out, and thinking about it, I guess the reason starch isn't used is so the ink doesn't wash out with the starching........I was trying to get my piece of calico to be more rigid in order to be taken up by the printer more easily, that is why I used starch.
Anna
Val's method of preparing muslin is an easy way to make any fabric 'prepared for dyeing'. Washing in Synthrapol, drying with no chemicals and pressing with no chemicals will also work. As far as getting your calico stiff enough to run through your printer, pressing it to freezer paper will take care of that...just make sure the leading edge is very secure. Black ink and colored inks are different types...the black is pigment ink and that's why it 'sticks', colored inks are dye based inks which are water soluble.