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Post by elizabeth on Jun 28, 2016 17:26:32 GMT
I'm looking at purchasing a book on eco-dying. I feel that the main gap in my knowledge (other than the actual DOING of it!) is how to gather and preserve natural materials for use later. I keep seeing plants that I know are used for dye, but I don't know exactly what part of the plant is best, and how to preserve it for when I can use it. For example - I have a nice Poke plant with ripening berries in my back yard. This means that there are many more elsewhere. What do I do with the berries after I harvest them.
That's a long way to ask: India Flint - Eco Colors Jenny Dean - Wild Colors Chris McLaughlin - A Garden to Dye for (gets great reviews on Amazon)
Thanks
PS I have Sasha Duerr - the Handbook of Natural Dyes.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 28, 2016 17:47:02 GMT
India flint may have good instructions but I don't think she will have info on your local plants. I know my guild has a book Wild Dyes of Ontario (or something close to that), that is local to us. maybe your library may have something for the south west. Or something about dyes used by the southwest aboriginal tribes to dye.
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 28, 2016 21:16:50 GMT
I would not recommend India Flint's books. You will be disappointed if you are looking for specific instructions. I don't have any recommendations but I wanted to voice a no vote for Eco Colors.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 28, 2016 22:23:32 GMT
I have a "complete guide to natural dyeing" by Eva Lambert and Tracy Kendall which gives general instructions and examples for natural dyeing. It's not specific to Eco printing. It's a good general first timer reference with good info. But many of the trees and plants aren't in my area. If you looked at my blog today you'll see Luvswool commented that dyeing or printing is a regional thing. I'd look for a book about natural dyeing in Texas. Also, Cathy (Luvswool) has a blog about natural dyeing just click on the banner above. She does Eco printing as well.
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Post by koffipot on Jun 29, 2016 6:38:35 GMT
I have Jenny Dean's "Wild Colour" and would strongly recommend it as a beginner book.
Why not try some from your local library first, then you can make an informed decision on which suits your needs.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jun 29, 2016 13:29:06 GMT
All good suggestions above! Because there are regional differences--the plants, the water, the soil--I have not yet found a single book to recommend for eco-printing. Many of the books glorify the various eucalyptus plants, but we do not grow them in the Midwest. I checked out every book on natural dyeing at my library, and there are a few pages in each book which are useful. So yes, do that as per Koffipot’s suggestion.
Most of my eco-printing experiments come from my head, what I have read on-line, and snippets from this book and that--and what I have grown on my deck in the city (very limited). Good friends have sent me clippings and such (thanks, Elizabeth and Marilyn!)--but otherwise I use the plants I’ve grown myself from nursery stock.
If I were in your situation with a house and surrounding land, I would plant a dyer’s garden guided by your locally available plants. You may have to wait a couple of years for some of the plants to produce color.
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Post by koffipot on Jun 29, 2016 14:40:44 GMT
There are a couple of eco printing groups on facebook, though the better one is now a secret group, so I don't think they're taking more members.
I just use the old "trial and error" method with local plants from the garden and hedgerow.
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Post by elizabeth on Jun 29, 2016 17:47:53 GMT
I have Jenny Dean's "Wild Colour" and would strongly recommend it as a beginner book. Why not try some from your local library first, then you can make an informed decision on which suits your needs. I found a new book by Jenny Dean at my library and have it on order. It's 'A Heritage of Colour'.
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Post by elizabeth on Jun 29, 2016 18:05:09 GMT
Thanks, all. I wish I could grow a dye garden. Sadly, I'm in a small city lot with massive trees, so too much shade to grow much. I think I'll just have to research each time I spot a potential dye plant. And experiment as you all say.
I've found many eco-print groups on Facebook. What I was hoping to find were some details on harvesting and preserving the plants until I was ready to dye with them.
My poke berries are ripening, so I'll have to scout out for more in the countryside. I did find a very good and detailed description of how to harvest & process these!
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 29, 2016 18:36:04 GMT
Let us know how it goes Elizabeth!
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 29, 2016 19:52:25 GMT
Kathy Hayes has teaching videos for eco printing. She says to preserve the leaves by drying them between paper and heavy weights on top. Store them flat and then soak them in water for a couple of hours before eco printing.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jun 29, 2016 22:05:58 GMT
Poke berries are poison I believe so be careful
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Post by koffipot on Jun 29, 2016 22:57:45 GMT
Thanks, all. I wish I could grow a dye garden. Sadly, I'm in a small city lot with massive trees, so too much shade to grow much. I think I'll just have to research each time I spot a potential dye plant. And experiment as you all say. I've found many eco-print groups on Facebook. What I was hoping to find were some details on harvesting and preserving the plants until I was ready to dye with them. My poke berries are ripening, so I'll have to scout out for more in the countryside. I did find a very good and detailed description of how to harvest & process these! You can dry your plant materials for later use. Just put them in a paper, cloth or other 'breathable' bag and hang it so they can dry out, then reconstitute by soaking them in warm water until they are malleable. Freezing is another option. I've just used some dried leaves from last autumn - successfully. Cotinus grows well in shade and gives wonderful prints in blues/purples, also greens if dipped in copper water. Many of the leaves from your existing trees will also give good prints. Oak, Horsechestnut, Maple and Rose leaves are superb. Fuschia flowers, elderberries. And of course many weeds - dandelion leaves and flowers, cranesbill leaves........ Don't forget onion skins, which can be cut to shape. Have fun experimenting in you new studio. Did I say how much I hate you for having a studio?
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Post by zed on Jun 30, 2016 10:38:07 GMT
I was going to say the same thing as Judith for preserving, freeze the berries (double bag if poisonous) and dry the plants/shrubs. When I dry my herbs, I make paper cone protectors to stop them getting dusty while they dry. I tie the stalks together and leave the string long to go through the hole in the top of the cone. They shrink a bit as they dry, so watch they don't slip out. Edit: I thought the same as Judith about the studio too
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Post by chookie2 on Jul 1, 2016 2:16:00 GMT
Elizabeth,I dry the roots of my Cleavers and keep them in jars until I need them , then soak and cook the colour out before adding fleece or rovings to it. I am going to try the microwave method soon as I often over stir the wool and it begins to felt then needs carding again ( duh me). The same for Madder and Woad. For eco-printing I mostly use the leaves as I find them - either fresh or dry- there is more lignin in fresh which adds to the print sometimes.All that Judith says plus more - just experiment and see what works for you. You can also lay the dried roots of the Cleavers directly onto your wool or silk fabric to get nice lacy airy prints in reds.
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