Double Dyeing Devore

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. Learn how...

Dyeing Devore with AlterEgo Dyes

You can either create a Devore fabric yourself or order a ready-made item from Arty’s.

Double dyeing involves using two distinct and different colours in one dye bath, and a fabric made from two different fibre types which take up the two dyes independently. The image here shows how the silk net on the devore cushion cover has taken the silk/wool colour while the pile has taken the viscose/cotton colour. The fibres (from left to right) include cotton chenille yarn, silk fibre, tencel fibre and wool yarn).

AlterEgo dyes take just 35 minutes to produce effective results and in our experience complementary colours, or light colours with dark, give the most effective contrast to show the products at their best. Results will vary depending on the amount of devorant ‘burn-out’ on the fabric.

The dyes offer consistency, have a long shelf life and are quick and simple to apply and use just one container!

The following recipe is for 10-25gm dry fabric:

1. Fill a stainless steel saucepan with about 500ml lukewarm water.
2. Add 5-7ml silk colour and 7-10ml viscose colour (depending on density of colour), 3-6 drops fixative, 3 drops white vinegar and 5ml cooking salt.
3. Rinse the fabric in lukewarm water, squeeze it out and add to the saucepan while still damp.
4. Put saucepan on a low heat and stir for 5 mins to homogenize the dyes, increase the heat and allow to boil for 20 mins.
5. Remove from heat and leave to stand for 10 mins.
6. Rinse fabric under running water and then wash in lukewarm, soapy water. Rinse until water is clear and squeeze out.
7. Lay fabric out on absorbent paper to dry or iron on reverse.

Dyeing Devore with Acid and Procion MX Fibre Reactive Dyes

Double dyeing can also be achieved by dyeing the fabric with Acid dyes (which will colour the silk/protein fibres) and Procion MX Fibre Reactive dyes (which will colour the viscose/cellulose fibres).

This is a much longer process as the fabric must first be dyed following the instructions for Procion MX Fibre Reactive dyes, then rinsed and wrung out. The fabric is then dyed following the instructions for Acid dyes.