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Post by felicity on Oct 24, 2014 17:14:01 GMT
The question is as above! The reason for my questioning is that I'm a bit confused... Often I see in some felted item description "hand dyed silk, hand dyed wool". I understand that hand dyed materials suggest (and often guaranteed) the uniqueness of the item. But often it implies (sometimes indirectly) that it means being eco-friendly as well. Is it so? Yes when I dye some chiffon with onion peels it is, but it seems that people mostly use industrially manufactured dyes bought in a shop or from wool suppliers. So what is the difference? May be the bleaching of wool is ommited in hand dyeing but in general it's the same process just on a smaller scale. Or not? Do I miss something? I am not talking about eco-print technique.
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Post by Pandagirl on Oct 25, 2014 0:46:41 GMT
Felicity, I don't think hand dyed necessarily means Eco friendly. I would think that if natural dyes were used, it should have to state natural or Eco friendly would be used in the description. I hand dye things, but I use acid or Procion dyes. However, if I hand dyed silk using dandelions I would think that should be part if the description. For example, hand dyed silk with dandelions. I hope this helps..
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Post by MTRuth on Oct 25, 2014 0:58:38 GMT
I would say that a single person hand dyeing something with acid or Procion dyes is more eco-friendly than a large factory that dyes fabric. Even natural dyes have some non-eco friendly mordants sometimes.
I would put hand dyed on my piece because it means that I spent more time getting the colors I wanted instead of just buying already dyed wool. But I don't put on there that it's eco friendly. I think some people just put that on their products because it's the politically correct thing and they think it will help sell their stuff.
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Post by Shepherdess on Oct 25, 2014 1:41:53 GMT
Some consider the commercial acid dyes more eco friendly. To get nice colours you often need very toxic mordents. Many natural dye stuffs are in short supply and if we all used them to dye the would be gone. Of course this depends on where you live. Where I live mostly all you can get is yellow and a few dull shades greens and browns
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Post by felicity on Oct 25, 2014 7:25:52 GMT
I would put hand dyed on my piece because it means that I spent more time getting the colors I wanted instead of just buying already dyed wool. It's a good point Ruth! Thanks for your opinions ladies! It seems that we agreed in this. I just started to think about dyeing some stuff at home and look at it from different perspectives... |
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Post by zed on Oct 25, 2014 9:30:33 GMT
I don't have much to add other than for all the 'natural' products we use in felting, I'm under no illusion that any are produced in an eco friendly way. I don't even like how much soap and water I dump down the drain making a piece of felt.
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Post by felicity on Oct 25, 2014 11:06:03 GMT
I don't have much to add other than for all the 'natural' products we use in felting, I'm under no illusion that any are produced in an eco friendly way. I don't even like how much soap and water I dump down the drain making a piece of felt. Still I think the felting is one of the most eco-friendly crafts. We don't use electricity much and the wool comes from "sustainable source"! Water... yes, but I know the lady who is taking a bath twice a day! Everyone decides for themselves apparently. |
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Post by zed on Oct 26, 2014 9:29:27 GMT
I think the more we do ourselves, like the cleaning, carding etc, then the more eco friendly it is, definitely.
I have a water meter and I hate seeing how much water it takes just to wash my really short hair, I think I'd have a stroke if I had to pay for 2 baths a day!
I wish we could deal with our waste water better here, like have easier access under the sink, to collect and use grey water. I prefer felting outside to put the water on the grass even though they still charge me for 'processing waste water'.
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Jan 15, 2015 19:41:39 GMT
Sorry to barge in, ladies, but I was reading Felicity's question and your answers, and I'm a bit at a loss! I thought "hand dyeing" meant a specific dyeing technique, like "dip-dyeing" is one, or "immersion dyeing..." Am I mistaken? Help!  |
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Post by Pandagirl on Jan 16, 2015 1:58:33 GMT
Leonor,I'm don't know if there is a specific definition for hand dyed. I believe all those terms apply simply because an individual is doing the dyeing. But it also applies when a person dyes in a pot or steamer or whatever. The point is it's not commercially dyed. Hope that helps.
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Post by felicity on Jan 16, 2015 10:19:04 GMT
Leonor, this is a mystery for me too...
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Post by zed on Jan 16, 2015 10:41:09 GMT
I agree with Marilyn, it means a person rather than a machine/factory/automated process did it. Sometimes people will say 'hand painted' so you know they applied the dyes individually to the fibre rather than putting it in a pot. I'm guessing it's the same way I do it? I don't know.
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Jan 17, 2015 0:06:40 GMT
Ah, that's it, Zed! I was confusing "hand painted" with hand dyed Thanks for clearing that up for me! |
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Post by zed on Jan 17, 2015 10:44:00 GMT
I'm only guessing though!
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Post by Leonor (of Eleanor Shadow) on Jan 18, 2015 17:05:18 GMT
I'm guessing you're right, Zed  |
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