Fiber Etch® Fiber Remover is a gel which creates decorative effects by removing fiber.

Yes. Fiber Etch® removes plant fibers: cotton, linen, ramie, rayon and paper. It is also very effective on fabric blends (and most noticeable on blends containing at least 50% plant fibers).

For embroidery, use a thread that Fiber Etch® will not remove: 100% polyester, acrylic, nylon, metallic (not containing a rayon core), or silk.

Specifically, silk is a protein fiber, as is wool. Fiber Etch® will only remove plant fibers.

Two things. Fiber Etch® is a gel, so it won't flow out of control. Also, satin stitching, paint, or adhesives from iron-ons help to keep it contained (as well as providing a non-raveling border around areas to be removed). Use a hairdryer to speed drying of Fiber Etch®.

Simply wash it out of the fabric with soap and water. Alternately, you can sprinkle a bit of baking soda to neutralize the area if the treated area is still damp.

The velvet must be silk back with rayon pile (Fiber Etch® removes the rayon pile and leaves the silk back intact).

If applying with a brush or from the bottle, apply to the pile side. If silkscreening, apply to the reverse side.

Choose an unsized cotton rag or rice paper without plasticizers, fillers, or polishes.

Avoid fabrics with heavy finishes or wax polishes, or that are heavily pigment printed. Some sizings can be washed out of fabrics.

Use water-soluble or paper-based stabilizers. Also good to use are coffee filters, freezer wrap, and starch.

Fiber Etch® is particularly useful in removing small areas of intricate cutwork designs. With silk or polyester thread on linen fabric, stitch three close rows of small straight stitches following pattern lines, then satin stitch over all three rows of straight stitching. Apply Fiber Etch® at base of stitching. Apply to both sides of heavier fabrics.

Finishes do not allow Fiber Etch® to permeate into the fibers of the fabric. Fiber Etch® will remain on the top of the finish and simply turn the finish brownish when ironed, not contacting the fabric fibers at all. Washing will not always remove all finishes.

Many poly blend fabrics have finishes, and many colorful cottons have finishes as well.

Unless you're using specifically Kona® (quilter’s) Cotton, or fabric purchased with the highest grade: PFP, which means "Prepared for Printing", testing a strip is necessary to ensure it is finish free.

Apply enough to permeate through to the back side of the material.

Generally not. Silk content fabrics, especially silk/rayon velvet and silk/rayon satin, contain only 20% or so of silk. This renders the fabric very fragile and sensitive to an extended period of Fiber Etch® contact.

Place in a tumble dryer on low (with a small, dry towel) for about 30 minutes. When activated, treated area becomes stiff. You can test if sufficiently activated by scratching with finger.

If fabric is not sufficiently activated after 1 hour in the dryer, finish activating with an iron on low heat, using a press cloth.

Yes, especially if your fabric contains silk. After applying Fiber Etch®, be certain to tumble dry all silk-blend fabrics prior to ironing.

No. Dyeing fabric is the last step, after Fiber Etch® has been activated and removed.

Select a soft, fine-grained wood. We recommend a birch-faced plywood.