Push a barrow
of fabric to front of machine
(if dye-lot is split over several barrows make sure load is complete)
Space pegs in peg-rail for number of ropes and start the winch.
Crack water valve
open and add detergent for wettability
(To disperse knitting oils and enable fabric to sink)
Find first end
of fabric from top of barrow and with a boomerang throw
throw over the winch.
Load fabric in
the minimum of water
(to prevent excessive movement)
Leave the water
cracked on, slowly filling
(to save time)
and have the
pegs spaced evenly across the peg rail
(minimizes creasing).
 |
Catch
end of fabric with a loading pole and bring it back through the peg rail. |
The winch’s elliptical
movement will pull and plate the fabric into the machine.
(avoiding tangles and leading to even dyeing)
When the bottom
end of the first rope is exposed sew rope end to end into a loop
(Edge to edge, one and a half inches in from the end,
taking care to avoid twists, knots, and breaking the needle)
Repeat with
next rope until the barrow is empty.
(With practice two or more barrows can be loaded simultaneously,
holding the ropes like the reins of a husky team)
When finished
loading, fill to correct liquor level and heat to 30C.
Wet-out for five minutes, drain and fill (meanwhile fetching chemicals/dyestuff
)
Scour or bleach or add dye chemicals according to recipe.