What Is Jig Dyeing?
Jig dyeing (also known as jigger dyeing) is one of the oldest and most widely used batch dyeing methods for woven fabrics. The fabric is wound in open-width form onto a roller, passed through a dye liquor trough at the bottom of the machine, and wound onto a second roller. When the entire length has transferred, the direction reverses. Each back-and-forth passage is called an "end," and dyeing always involves an even number of ends.
The real dyeing action occurs not in the liquor trough but while the fabric dwells on the rollers, where dye absorption and diffusion take place. This makes jig dyeing especially suitable for cotton, flax, and woven fabrics that are prone to creasing in rope form.
1. Pre-Treatment
Wash fabric to remove oils, waxes, and impurities. Bleaching may be applied to ensure sufficient dye absorption.
2. Immersing
Fabric passes through dye liquor containing dyestuff and auxiliaries. Temperature, time, and concentration vary by fiber type.
3. Winding & Dyeing
Wet fabric winds onto rollers forming tight batches. Dye diffuses into fibers during dwell time on the rollers.
4. Multiple Passes
Direction reverses automatically for even-numbered ends. Multiple passes ensure uniform, deep color penetration.
5. Washing & Drying
Post-dyeing wash removes unfixed dye. Heating and drying fix color and soften the fabric for final inspection.