|
Post by lyn on Apr 10, 2016 20:10:31 GMT
Frances - I love those tops - they're chic but also comfy for the hot weather you have.
Cathy - they are lovely colours!
Jill - the dress will be well received as it's so delicately pretty.
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Apr 10, 2016 20:19:07 GMT
Lovely work everyone!
|
|
|
Post by Frances on Apr 10, 2016 22:27:07 GMT
Jill - I love the baby dress. Cathy - colors are great. Marilyn these are the patterns I used - very easy. Pattern No 8352 attern No 1105 purchase at Joannes Fabrics
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Apr 10, 2016 22:39:52 GMT
Thanks Frances.
|
|
|
Post by koffipot on Apr 11, 2016 6:31:23 GMT
Great results from the cochineal Cathy. Gorgeous shades. My attempt was something of a failure. I bought the dried bugs, ground them, soaked them for 24 hours and followed all the instructions I found online and ended up with a pale pink 'stain'!!! I've been advised to use either rainwater or distilled as our water is moderately hard and cochineal doesn't perform well with hard water. Any advice would be very gratefully received.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 11, 2016 13:38:16 GMT
Judith, I used regular tap water, but I had purchased the powdered version of cochineal (I don’t really like to see or touch bugs…). Did you use alum as a mordant for your fiber first? It sounds like you did everything else correctly.
|
|
|
Post by elizabeth on Apr 11, 2016 21:35:40 GMT
Judith, I used regular tap water, but I had purchased the powdered version of cochineal (I don’t really like to see or touch bugs…). Did you use alum as a mordant for your fiber first? It sounds like you did everything else correctly. I was at a restaurant recently and noticed that there are cochneal insects on the cactus. Has anyone tried gathering the insects and using them for dying? They may not be the EXACT insects used in the quality dyes, but the cactus grow like weeds in Texas. For the record, I didn't play with dolls as a child, but bugs & frogs, so I'm not afraid to touch them. They're quite immobile.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 11, 2016 22:13:24 GMT
Cochineal insects hang out on the prickly pear cactus in the Southwest, Mexico and Central America. Those are the bugs they use for cochineal…so, Elizabeth, I suppose you could gather your own bugs and “eeeek” grind them up for cochineal dye.
|
|
|
Post by koffipot on Apr 12, 2016 7:09:08 GMT
I believe the Mexicans just squash the fresh bugs and sometimes use them as lipstick - each to their own My bugs were dried and very hard, looking, more like metal chips than bugs, but grinding gives a dark purplish red powder. I mordanted with Alum. I think the problem may well be the local water, we live in a limestone area so it stands to reason that it is hard. Will have to catch some rainwater. I'm also advised that the addition of tin gives the perfect scarlet, though I'm not too keen on using it. I'll make sure to leave out some buckets whilst I'm on holiday and hope it rains at home while I will hopefully be enjoying some sunshine.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 12, 2016 12:50:57 GMT
You could soften the water before dyeing--there are additives for that. If that doesn’t work, I am thinking about the actual cochineal substance you used. And did you dye wool or silk? Cochineal is reported not to be an effective dye with cellulose fibers. The mystery continues. And have a nice holiday!
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Apr 12, 2016 13:57:41 GMT
Judith, enjoy your holiday. I hope you can find the warmth. We didn't have much luck this winter escaping the cold even in California and Florida. The cold seemed to follow us.
|
|
|
Post by koffipot on Apr 12, 2016 16:30:41 GMT
You could soften the water before dyeing--there are additives for that. If that doesn’t work, I am thinking about the actual cochineal substance you used. And did you dye wool or silk? Cochineal is reported not to be an effective dye with cellulose fibers. The mystery continues. And have a nice holiday! I dyed silk and used Calgon water softener. Will try again.
|
|
|
Post by elizabeth on Apr 12, 2016 17:30:02 GMT
Cochineal insects hang out on the prickly pear cactus in the Southwest, Mexico and Central America. Those are the bugs they use for cochineal…so, Elizabeth, I suppose you could gather your own bugs and “eeeek” grind them up for cochineal dye. I'll let you know if they scream too much. Actually, I looked on-line and I think I'll set them in the sun to dry before grinding. Now I just need to sneak over there and get some.
|
|
|
Post by halay on Apr 12, 2016 17:46:45 GMT
Jill, what a lovely dress for a girl. I'm sure the girl will love it. it's fun making dresses for small girls: not much material needed not as stressful as with large size garment, and relatively easy to make. Cathy, gorgeous colours that got from cochineal . This dye is on my list when I make my next order. How did you treat you fibers, what mordant did you use?
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Apr 12, 2016 17:55:56 GMT
Lovely tops Frances, just the thing for hot weather. Wow, what deep purples you got Cathy. Did you use a modifier? Love the dress Jill. I like the "raggyness" of it. I sure it will be a favourite.
|
|