|
Post by Shepherdess on Apr 12, 2016 17:58:39 GMT
My dose yesterday was doing a little stitching and a little plying but best of all I pulled another person down the fiber rabbit hole. a person who had asked to join the guild facebook page and then got her to come to our informal social meeting and now she is hooked.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 13, 2016 1:29:50 GMT
Oh, So glad you all like my cochineal dyed fiber! Did I happen to mention I am teaching a course on Natural Dyeing for the Forum in June? (cochineal will be one of my dyes!) Okay, so I firstly scoured my fiber--an essential step when dyeing with “naturals”--and then used alum for mordanting my fiber (all animal fibers and silk). Then I proceeded to dye with the cochineal.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Apr 13, 2016 1:54:33 GMT
When I tried it with a friend we got more of a pink colour. Magenta I guess not nice deep purple. that was the same day I failed to dye my hair indigo.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 13, 2016 12:33:29 GMT
Ann, there are other methods of achieving different colors, including using additives (like cream of tartar) and “color changers” (such as iron). It’s all about experimentation and keeping strict notes of what works and what doesn’t.
|
|
|
Post by koffipot on Apr 13, 2016 20:58:26 GMT
This is some advice I received from Paul Henry; a seasoned dyer who achieves great results with cochineal:-
Dyeing with Cochineal
Tips from Paul Henry:-
my experience is only with wool, the first few times I only got a range of light purples and pinks, because I think I didn't soak the cochineal long enough before, and I used tap water, and the yarn wasn't in the dye bath long enough. I had wanted to get the "red" and I found that if the cochineal was ground finely and soaked overnight in rain water and free from any iron, and then heated to almost boiling, letting it cool and then adding the alum soaked overnight yarn, but rinsed clean and simmering for about 40 minutes I got good strong purples. If I added some tin chloride soaked yarn ( no alum) I got purples as well, but if I then added some of the tin mix to the dye bath and then simmered for 10 -15 I got reds.... the elusive reds - this worked for the previously alum soaked yarn as well - I was after. I also used a bit more ground up cochineal ( I was obviously being mean at first) I go much better colours. So I think that in order to get the "red" the yarn needs to be dyed in the cochineal , and then re dyed with some addtional tin in the mix. I;m afraid I wasn't very scientific that time, but I do want to experiment again when I have time and I'll take better measurements. I was very fascinated with the cochineal, it seems very versatile in producing a range of colours, it's certainly worth perservering, One note however, be very careful with the tin, some dyers won't use it , but it does seem to be the way to get red!
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 13, 2016 21:06:53 GMT
Paul Henry’s experiments with cochineal are interesting. However, TIN is the word I don’t like to see in dyeing because of its toxicity to the dyer and also safe disposal issues. There are other ways to get true red without using toxic chemicals. Stay tuned!
|
|
|
Post by koffipot on Apr 13, 2016 21:50:32 GMT
As he said; tin is not something everyone would want to use, and I'd not want to, but the information is there for those who do.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Apr 13, 2016 22:06:27 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Apr 13, 2016 22:10:40 GMT
Dying can be dangerous. Always makes me cringe when people who know nothing want to natural dye with their kids because the think it's safer then acid dyes.
I am looking forward to seeing your experiments.
|
|
|
Post by chookie2 on Apr 14, 2016 1:09:15 GMT
Lovely feminine child's dress - such soft colours look lovely together.
Ingenious invention Ann, love the idea of stretching to sew on the felt or even to needlefelt details perhaps?
I have some Cochineal powder here not yet used so am absorbing all your good info at the moment,but I do have PLANS ! LOL
My daily dose was ordering more supplies from three suppliers and wow one came today only 24 hours later .In total I have ordered seven prefelts (200x150cm)and 6.5 KG of Merino tops in various colours from three suppliers.(what can I say - I was on a roll). I spent money that I was planning on using for a workshop in May but decided not to attend - so now I need to get busy felting so I can justify my spend up. LOL
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Apr 14, 2016 10:50:18 GMT
|
|
|
Post by zed on Apr 14, 2016 11:02:53 GMT
Is it a certain preparation of tin, the tin chloride which is dangerous? Tin as far as I knew it is one of the safest metals, they use it to coat tins. I agree Ann, I know just enough chemistry and biology to be dangerous
|
|
|
Post by sundownalpacas on Apr 14, 2016 11:07:34 GMT
I have some of those dried bugs. I have never tried using them yet. Beautiful results.
|
|
|
Post by lyn on Apr 14, 2016 11:27:06 GMT
Great resource Ann. I could have done with your marvellous invention today when I struggled to hand-stitch a piece of felt!
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Apr 14, 2016 12:49:49 GMT
Ann--great little invention…are the pvc pipes glued together?
Liz, thanks!
Zed--tin (Stannous Chloride) can be volatile at high temperatures and the fumes can be poisonous. There are better alternatives!
|
|