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 You can create devore (from the French devorer - meaning to
devour) by using a devorant paste on a mixed fibre fabric.
The devorant destroys (burns out) viscose and plant (cellulose)
fibres such as cotton, linen etc and leaves other fibres such
as polyester and animal fibres, like silk and wool, intact.
It is used to best effect on Velvet fabric where the viscose
pile is eaten away and the silk backing remains in place.
Devorants
can also be used to burn holes in cellulose fabrics such as
100% cotton and linen to create a lace effect fabric. Often
these holes are prone to fraying, making the fabric unsuitable
for clothing.
The fabrics
suitable for this technique are: undyed silk/viscose Velvet,
black silk/viscose Velvet, Silco (57% silk/43% cotton ) and
silk/viscose Satin.
Before you Begin
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The reactant contains Sodium Bisulphate, which is a corrosive
compound and can cause burns or become a respiratory irritant.
Take care to use in a well ventilated room and rinse well
with water if in contact with skin and eyes.
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Store out of the reach of children.
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Always test on a sample of fabric before beginning a
project.
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Regulate the heat when activating the devorant as too
much can cause blackening to treated areas.
 Instructions
for Dupont Devorant (download
a PDF of Material Safety Data Sheet)
Dupont
Devorant is package in two containers; a reactant
and a paste.
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Wear rubber gloves. The reactant
powder is a corrosive compound which can cause burns or
be a respiratory irritant. The final mixture therefore has
the same properties and should be used with caution.
To create the devorant paste, mix exactly 15% reactant to
85% paste (or 3 parts reactant to 17 parts paste).
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The ingredients must be stirred until completely mixed
together. The mixture can be kept in an airtight container
for up to 8 days but will no longer work once it becomes
too liquid.
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Pin fabric to a frame and draw a design using an autofade
pen.
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Working from the back of the fabric, the devorant can
be applied using a brush, stamps, through a silk screen,
using screen printing techniques, or from an applicator
bottle.
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Leave the devorant to dry completely. A hair dryer can
be used to speed drying.
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To activate the devorant: ALWAYS WORK IN A WELL
VENTILATED AREA, as ironing will release an acrid
vapour.
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Place a cloth between the piece of work and the sole
plate of the iron.
Iron the dried work on the reverse (the side on which the
devorant was applied) on a cotton/wool setting without steam.
Iron until a yellowish colour appears on the treated areas.
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Wearing rubber gloves, soak the fabric in warm soapy water
and rinse. The devorant should now have removed the cellulose
fibres.
 Instructions
for Fiber Etch
(download a PDF
of Material Safety Data Sheet)
This product is slightly different from Dupont Devorant.
It is recommended that the gel be applied to the front or
pile of the Velvet and to the reverse of the fabric if it
is being applied through a silk screen during screen printing.
Unintended spills of Fiber
Etch can be removed by sprinkling baking powder
over them while still damp or they can be washed out with
soap and water. Do not leave Fiber Etch on fabrics overnight.
The 118ml Fiber Etch comes in a flexible plastic bottle and
has a spout shaped dispenser.
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Pin fabric to a frame and draw a design using an autofade
pen.
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Squeeze the bottle to release the gel and apply a thin
layer (not raised) to the fabric. Use the spout to scratch
the surface of the fabric and ensure that the gel has penetrated
the fibres.
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Leave the devorant to dry completely. A hair dryer can
be used to speed drying.
-
To activate the devorant: ALWAYS WORK IN A WELL
VENTILATED AREA, as ironing will release an acrid
vapour.
-
Place a cloth between the piece of work and the sole plate
of the iron.
Iron the dried work on the reverse of the design on a wool
setting without steam. Test treated area periodically with
a finger and stop ironing once the Fiber Etch becomes brittle.
Do not overheat or over iron.
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Wearing rubber gloves, rinse the fabric under running
water. Carefully rub away at the design to help the fibres
to fall away. Take special care when removing the devorant
from finely woven fabrics to prevent tearing.
The devore fabric can be dyed using two colours in one dyepot
with AlterEgo
dyes
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