Space dyeing is a technique that dyes yarn in multiple colors along its length to create abstract patterns. It involves dyeing yarn skeins, packages, or hanks with different colors in discrete spaced areas. This produces uniquely patterned yarns that make vividly designed fabrics when knitted, woven, or otherwise constructed. Key methods include knit-de-knit, package dyeing, pot and hank dyeing. Mordants are used to fix dyes. Space dyeing uses less dye and chemicals than solid dyeing while allowing multi-color effects in a single yarn. Applications include knitwear, home textiles, and carpets.

1. SPACE DYEING MODERN CONCEPT
DEPARTMENT OF TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI
BY: HAYELOM BELAY INTRY NUMBER 2018TTC2088

2. Outline
 Introduction to Space dyeing
 Selection of fibers and dyes stuffs
 Dyeing Methods
 Dye fixing agent (mordants)
 space dyeing Vs conventional solid dyeing
 Challenges with space dyeing
 Application area
 References:

3. Space dyeing
 Dyeing of yarn in multiple colors applied along the length of
each strand of yarn to create abstract color patterns.
 It is a technique used to give yarn a unique, multi-colored effect.
 Uses for the ultimate production of multi colored designs.
 Space dyed yarns produce beautiful effects after weaving and
knitting and are used to produce fancy design effects when
incorporated in apparel wear

4. Cont….
 Space dyed yarn can be dyed in either coordinating or
contrasting shades.
The coordinating colors are tones of neutral or shades of hues
like blue, green, red which provide sophisticated look.
contrasting shades in space dyed yarn include mixing of purple,
red, green and blue.
Those colours in space dyeing create lovely fabrics by varying
shade or hue from one to another.

5. Selection of fibers and dyes stuffs
It depends on the type of substrate, method of dye application,
machinery used and the desired fastness properties.
Recommended dyes and process chemicals are:
 Reactive dyes and vat dyes (in micro disperse form) for package and
continuous dyeing of cellulosic yarn
 Disperse dyes for package and continuous dyeing of Polyester yarn
 Direct dyes for hank and package dyeing of cellulosic yarn
 Acid metal complex dyes for package and continuous dyeing of
Wool, silk and Nylon yarn

6. Cont..
 Auxiliaries such as Sequestering agent, dispersing agent, pH
controlling agent, dye fixing agent, Washing off agent and Yarn
lubricant for optimum finishing
 After the dye application, further processing of dye diffusion,
fixation and washing off of unfixed superficial dye is done.
Finally, the finishing is done for yarn lubrication, softening or
antistatic treatment depending of the nature of substrate and the
end use application.

7. Methods of space dyeing
 Knit-de-knit process
Package Form dyeing Process
 Pot skein dyeing process
 Hank form dyeing process
 Continuous dyeing process
 Spraying of colors onto the skeins of yarn.

8. The knit-de-knit process
 The yarn is first knitted into tubular fabrics (socks) and then
overall length of all loops is dyed to a solid color.
All solid-colored dyed loops of tubular knitted fabric are dyed with
up to seven different colors.
The socks are then de-knitted, producing contrast effect between
overprinted and base colors.
The dye penetrates the loops of the yarn but does not readily
penetrate the areas of the yarn where it crosses itself, alternating
dyed and undyed spaces appear.

9. Pot skein dyeing process
• Skein is added to the dye bath having water before turning on the heat.
different colored dye is added with each drop in a different spatial area.
• The skein is left in the pot undisturbed until all of the dye has been
absorbed into the skein.
• skein is cool and washed with warm water and mild soap until the rinse
water runs clear..
• Multicolored skein is obtained with each strand of yarn having
random colors on it at random intervals which produces very distinct
designs when transformed into fabric.

10. Space dyeing in package form
• Color is injected at a fixed place at a high pressure and collected
through a vacuum which create beautiful patterns of dyed patches on
package, with good sharpness.
• The dyed time is extremely low. The packages are taken for further
color fixation and washing on another set of machines such as
autoclave and yarn dyeing machines.
• The resulting package has different patches having different colors
which may or may not be fixed so space dyed yarns are obtained.

11. Space dyeing in hank form
• This is similar process to produce tie dye effects in knitting yarn
and embroidery threads.
• The processes is applied by spraying the colors on a layer of hank
at fixed places, which are fixed through hank with pressure and
collected underneath by vacuum.
• The yarns are dried, and cured for color fixation and the washed.
• Dye is fixed on the hank with the help of mordants.

12. Continuous or warp yarn printing process
In this process multiple strands of yarn are continuously
printed at spaced intervals with different colors
 yarns pass between a pair of cylinders, the lower cylinder is
dipped into a trough of dye liquor which gets picked up on
the surface of the pads and when the opposing pairs are in
the raised position the yarn passing between them gets
printed

13. Cont….
color is applied, either by lick rollers or by a spinning disc applicator.
These yarns when woven into fabric produces eye-catching designs
 Is used for expensive cretonnes and upholstery fabrics.
The yarn is dyed as singles or piled form and the color is applied
either by air jets or dye troughs.
Such warp printing imparts a long spacing design which is generally
preferred for manufacturing of tufted carpets.

14. Dye fixing agent (mordants)
 mordant is to help permanently fix the dye to the yarn after the
space dyeing process.
Interact with the fibers of a given material and the dye solution.
This interaction helps to ensure that the dye sets properly, without
splotching or running.

15. Cont…
There are three ways to apply a mordant depending on the type of material used and
the desired effect that the manufacturer wishes to achieve.
Pre-mordanting (onchrome): The substrate is treated with the mordant and then
dyed, the complex between the mordant and dye is formed on the fibre.
Meta-mordanting (metachrome): The mordant is added in the dye bath itself.
applicable to only a few dyes.
Post-mordanting (afterchrome): The dyed material is treated with a mordant. The
complex between the mordant and dye is formed on the fibre.

16. Advantage of space dyeing over conventional solid dyeing
 Reduced consumption of dyestuff and chemicals.
 Avoidance of printing thickener
Reduction in effluent.
Able to construct multicolor in single yarn lengths.
possible to dye the same skein of yarn many different colors.

17. Challenges with space dyeing
 Mixing or overlapping of colors along the length of yarn and on
the adjacent yarns which tend to result in visible streaks on the face
of the fabric affecting its appearance.
 Dye migration during the subsequent heat setting operation
resulting in blurring of adjacent color bands affecting its
appearance.
 Chance of dye dripping or contact mark off between different
yarn layers resulting in unwanted patches.

18. Application area
• Spaced dyed yarn is most commonly used for knitting and
crocheting.
• Making blankets, plaids, stripes, and checks, scarves, stocking
caps, and other items.
• The simple stitches of these projects allow the vibrant colors of
the yarn to take center stag.
• By woven or knitted together for apparel, home furnishing and
carpet making,

19. Cont…
• space dyed yarn is readily available at all major craft and
fabric stores, home furniture etc.
• Presently the Space Dyeing segment occupies a miniscule
(less than 1%) share in the textile coloration space.
• However, considering its potential to offer unique and
customized print design effects it has great potential to grow
by many folds in the near future.

20. References:
1. Mechanism of Space Dyeing, Processing By Rehan Ashraf
2. Industry-article/7462/methods-of-space-dyeing by ashok athalye
3.Areview of textile dyeing processes by WARREN S.Perkins,
4. Google images
5. Shangnan Shui and Alejandro Plastina; FAO/ICAC World Apparel
FibreConsumption Survey ICAC 2013
6. https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-space-dyeing.htm