Devoré

Devoré or burnout is a process of chemically destroying a component of a composite fabric. These are fabrics which are usually made up of either cellulose / synthetic blends or cellulose / protein blends. During the burnout process the cellulose fibres are physically burned out of the  fabric , leaving the rest of the fabric intact. One of the most popular fabrics for devoré is viscose/silk mix velvet.

While working with  Devoré products it is important to wear protective clothing: a dust/mist respirator, rubber gloves, safety goggles and an apron. Avoid contact with skin or eyes and keep container tightly closed when not in use.

Before beginning  read through  the leaflet carefully:

The best results occur when  Colourcraft Devoré is applied left to dry, heat activate and rinse to remove the fibres all on the same day. If the Devoré is left on the fabric for long periods it can deteriorate the fibres, especially silk. Be very gentle when  heat activating the devoré . If  too much heat is applied the silk backing will burn and leave a hole. We recommended you test on a practise piece is carried out before trying on a larger item.

To start with prepare a surface to print on. This can be done by laying down a thin towel onto the  work table and taping it down. Cover this with plastic so it is easy to wipe.

 Work on the back of the fabric, stretch the fabric and secure by taping it velvet pile side down with masking tape or something similar.

Apply the Colourcraft (C&A) Ltd Devoré to the fabric. This can be done by screen print, stencil,or freehand with a foam or bristle brush or squeezy bottle.

It is very important to make sure the devoré paste penetrates through to the back of the fabric.

 If using a stencil always brush the Colourcraft (C&A) Ltd Devoré away from the edge of the stencil or it will be pushed under the stencil causing your design to smear.

It is important to ensure that you coat the back of the fabric, you do not need to put an excessive amount on and any blobs of gel can be removed with a towel once your design has been finished.

Once dry you need to activate the Devoré. This can be done by baking or ironing.

You can bake for 4 minutes at 130degrees C  or iron the design. If ironing use a cloth to cover the design and set the iron on the cotton setting. We tried it on the silk setting and ironed direct onto the fabric which also worked. Slowly move the iron over the fabric for 3-5 minutes or until the fibres begin to turn light brown. It is very important not to over heat the areas with the devoré paste on as this may result in the fabric turning black and the remaining silk fibres being burnt. This will cause a hole.

Continue to wear protective clothing and a mask and work in a well ventilated area if possible.

Carefully remove the burned out areas of the fabric by gently hand washing the fabric in cold water .

This can be a little messy so work outside if possible . Rub the fibres with your fingers until the treated fibres come off. Take care  so as not to tear the silk backing.

Wash thoroughly with warm water approx 40deg C by hand or machine wash on a gentle cycle. Rinse thoroughly and hang to dry.

Next you can dye your fabric. You can use dyes from the extensive range manufactured by Colourcraft Colours & Adhesives Ltd in our Sheffield factory.