A yarn-dyed fabric is made by pre-dyeing yarns before they are woven. Yarn-dyed fabric has no raw edges, can hold color better, and is perfect for patterns such as plaid or gingham.
How did Fabric Dyeing Start?
Since the Neolithic period, yarn dyeing has been in existence. The Chinese made use of natural dyes from plants and insects for more than 5, 000 years. The invention of synthetic dyes began sometime in the 19th century. It was during this period that English chemist Willian Perkins discovered Mauvine serendipitously.
Up to the mid-1800s, yarns were package-dyed until piece-dyeing was invented in 1894 in Lyon, France.
What are the Methods of Making Yarn-dyed Fabric?
Yarn-dyed fabric is the product of a more ancient method involving three types of processes:
- Package aka spool of yarn- Untreated threads are twisted around tubes and delivered inside a dyeing machine, where dye runs and coats the bundles
- Warp-beam- A huge reel of thread made from the entire warp is looped around a tube and then fed into a beam dyeing equipment
- Skein aka hank- A long piece of yarn (~800 yards) that has been loosely looped into a ring and then twisted into a figure-eight shape and then placed in dye vats for coloring
What are the Other Methods for Dyeing Fabric?
In contrast to yarn-dyeing, piece-dyeing a fabric involves coloring the raw yarn after the weaving process. Piece-dyeing is the most common and economical process of dyeing fabric, over a shorter period of time.
Another method is solution-dyeing (dope or top-dyeing). This involves coloring the raw material first before turning it into actual yarn. The pre-dyed yarn may then be used for weaving. Solution-dyeing is a quick process of coloring and is considered more sustainable because it consumes water less and produces less carbon dioxide. It is the only method that can be used to produce the marl effect.
Why Opt for Yarn-dyed Fabric?
Yarn-dyed fabrics are common in tablecloths, kurtis, curtains, and upholsteries. They are great for decorations, fashion, and accessories because of their artistic and rustic designs. Yarn-dyed fabrics can fit any season and match multiple colored patterns. Yarn-dyed fabric is thicker and heavier thus it has more “body” and feels more substantial. The pattern in a yarn-dyed fabric remains defined and the texture more pronounced.
