Glossary Definitions for Words beginning with "B"

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Baking Soda
This can be combined with water and dye to make a weak alkali solution used for direct application. Also known as Sodium Bicarbonate. When used with Fiber reactive dye such as Procion MX or Procion H, the chemical reaction must be assisted with heat, such as by steaming It won't damage silk the way soda ash can.

Batching
A process of fixing dye onto fabric by keeping the fabric damp at room temperature for twenty-four hours or longer.

Batik Wax
A blend of 15% sticky wax and 85% paraffin wax, that is used for creating the crackle effect in batik. To decrease crackle, increase sticky wax and to increase crackle, increase the paraffin.

Batik
Technique using hot wax as a resist applied with a tjanting tool; a drawing instrument with a cup and spout from which molten wax is poured onto fabric in a design. Dye is then applied in progressive layers over the wax. Batik is traditionally done on either cotton or silk, or other natural fibers. A cool water dye such as Dharma Fiber Reactive is usually used so as not to melt the wax. Most Batik has a characteristic look with lots of darker fine lines caused by dye seeping into cracks in the wax.

Beeswax
This is a wax used for Batik as a resist, it doesn't crack much if at all and is usually mixed with paraffin to create a crackling effect. It melts at 120 degrees.

Binder
Solid ingredients in paint coating that hold the pigment particles in suspension and attach them to a substrate. Consists of resins (e.g., oils, alkyd, latex). The nature and amount of binder determine many paint properties: washability, toughness, color retention, and adhesion, etc.

Binding
A strip of fabric folded over and sewn to the edge of the fabric to protect it.

Biodegradable
Any material that can be broken down by bacteria in a natural way that is considered not hazardous to the environment.

Bleeding
The effect in which one color of a dye or paint diffuses into another causing it to discolor.

Blend
1. A combination of two or more different types of fibers in the same fabric. 2. The intermingling of 2 or more colors on a piece until there are no clear lines of demarcation.

Blistering
Formation of dome-shaped lumps in paints or varnish films resulting from local loss of adhesion and lifting of the film from the underlying surface.

Block
(aka Printing plate) A surface which contains an image that is to be printed. Some artists carve these by hand, place the block on their fabric or paper, and press or hammer the image. Others have been mechanically produced by photographic methods, and are used with a mechanical press.

Blocking
1. The unwanted sticking together of two painted surfaces when pressed together. 2. The laying out flat and reshaping of an article of clothing after washing and while still damp to regain its original size, as in blocking a sweater.

Boucle
An uneven yarn of three plies one of which one ply is looser and forms loops at uneven intervals.

Bound Resist
A method of dyeing in which the fabric, yarn or fiber is tightly tied in certain areas to prevent dye penetration, as in shibori, tie-dye, ikat.

Broadcloth
A tightly woven cloth with a plain weave where the warp and filler threads are usually of the same size. In silk or cotton, it launders and takes dyes well. Because of its ability to wear well it is used extensively in men's shirts and blouses, as well as home decorating.

Brocade
A jacquard fabric woven with a raised pattern or design in contrasting colors.

Brocatelle
A jacquard fabric in which the design is satin in texture with a dull background to form a contrast in the material.

Bubble Jet Set 2000
This is the new improved formula, which prepares fabrics to be printed on with inkjet or Bubblejet printers, including those using the newest HP inks. The results are permanent. Simply saturate your fabrics, let dry, iron onto freezer paper (from any supermarket), cut to fit your printer, print, let sit at least 30 min (longer, up to 24 hrs will give even better results), wash with Kieralon. Use gloves and proper ventilation. The darkness of the final image varies with different brands of inks.

Burn Testing
Fiber content is determined by the results of burning a small piece.

Burn Out
Better known as Devore. This is the production of a pattern on a fabric by printing with a substance that will destroy one or more of the fibers present, but not the others. Fiber Etch is used to eat cellulose fibers and works well on rayon/silk, hemp/silk and other blends of cellulose protein fabrics.

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