Interactive Primary Newsletter 37 Put some colour into your life

Dyeing cotton fabric To ensure colours do not wash out, a mordant is often used to fix the dye to the fabric. The dye molecules are initially only caught between the fibres of the fabric and only become permanently bonded by using a mordant. Because they often contain metals, mordants are not recommended for use by children. Figure 3 - Fabric samples soaking Soak Post-it sized (7 x 7 cm) squares of white cotton in your dyes until the colour appears to take. The longer you leave them, the more intense the colour (Fig. 3). We have also heard that you can give containers (microwaveable) a quick zap in the microwave to help the dye stew. Figure 4 - Dyed fabric samples Indications are good