Removing Colour from Fabric

[PrincessSara]

I'm looking at purchasing a light yellow linen, but I want it white (the store is out of white and apparently it's non-reorderable).  I've been reading about colour removing products, but I'm not really sure what to do.  I know chlorine bleach is bad.  There's thiourea dioxide and hydrosulfite and a bunch of others, but what I've read didn't give me enough information.  Can I use any of these things in the washing machine, cause I definitely don't have a pot big enough for the amount of fabric?  Will they bleach my fabric white, or just a lighter yellow?  I'm supposed to wear a gas mask, but I've never worn one while dyeing before - no one ever told me I had to.  Will these chemicals blow up my washing machine, because apparently some of them ignite when they come in contact with water?  How do I use these chemicals on linen?

[Escarlata]

The same company that makes Ritz dye makes a dye remover. It does a really nice job of turning colors white and removing stains.

[gem]

I've used the Rit dye remover, but only to remove *excess* dye from a jacket that bled on Milord's off-white shirt.  The shirt definitely came out just a wee bit brighter than off-white.  I've definitely heard of other costumers using it to prep fabric they wanted to dye another color, though.

Out of curiosity, though--is there something special about that particular linen?  I mean, white linen is fairly easy to come by....

[I. Stewart]

What's wrong with bleach?

[PrincessSara]

This linen is on sale for $5.39 a yard.  I can only get linen online, no one sells it anywhere near here.  Online, this linen is the cheapest I can find.  I'm in college and I can't really afford much of anything at the moment, so the cheaper the better.  If you know of something comparable, do let me know. 

I. Stewart, chlorine bleach attacks the fibres as well as the dye, so it weakens the fabric.

[Master James]

Have you looked at http://www.fabric-store.com/ as they have REALLY good priced linens and PLENTY of white.

[Miranda]

What are you making with this linen?

[PrincessSara]

Smocks and a chainse.  I'd still like them to be white, though.

I've bought from fabrics-store.com before and as I said I'm looking for the cheapest I can get.  I can't really afford 13 yards of linen at $7+ a yard.  That's why I'm looking to buy the stuff that's on sale, because it's cheaper.  Also, I haven't been very impressed with the linens I've gotten from fabrics-store.com, I found them stiff and scratchy even after a lot of washing.  The stuff from fabricdepot on eBay was much better, but they don't carry handkerchief weight.

[gracefulcarrie]

I know that you are looking at Linen fabric, but I did find the following and thought it might be helpful.
Dharma trading company has a linen/cotton blend (55/45) that they have on sale right now.  It is 2.2 oz fabric and comes only in white.  And right now it would only be 4.25/yd for the 13 yards you are looking for.  Here is the link:
http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3533-AA.shtml?lnav=fabric_cotton.html
if that isn't what you want, at least you ahve another resource to try later.
They no longer carry hanky weight linen either, which bums me out cause I liked it.  But they do have combed cotton lawn, which is wonderful (but a bit more pricey).
Good luck!

[sealion]

Are you anywhere near a JoAnn fabrics? They carry a "tissue weight" 60/40 linen cotton blend normally $8.99 per yard currently 40% off or $5.39 per yard. That's what I use for all of my smocks and partlets since I haven't been able to find 100% linen light enough. The yellow linen doesn't seem like a bargain to me if you have to pay for color remover and then take the chance that you won't get it as white as you want it to be.

[PrincessSara]

I thought the tissue weight was 100% linen?  That's what they told me when I e-mailed them.  The nearest JoAnn's is apparently in Niagara Falls which is 105 miles from here.  I don't think I could get my parents to drive me 105 miles for some fabric .  And the website doesn't ship to Canada.

I think I'll just keep looking around and see if I can find something I like.

[PrincessSara]

(Sorry for the double post)

Does anyone know if fabrics-store.com will be getting any more 2.8oz linen?  They had some last week and I was going to order it, but by the time the credit card (ie. my mom) got here it was all gone.  I'd be willing to pay the slightly higher price for that.

Also, because I'm a nerd, I went and calculated exactly how much 60" wide linen I'd need for 3 smocks and a chainse, and it's just under 9 yards.  I know the linen shrinks, and I have compensated for that.  Does anyone know how much the 2.8oz linen shrinks in width?