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Post by halay on Aug 30, 2015 13:12:25 GMT
I think this was my last experiment in using plants for dyeing. Too many surprises. Today I tried onion skins (red onion). I remember that with Easter eggs you get very nice red colour on eggs so I simmered my silk and some viscose fibres for one hour in one litre of water and skins of one kilogram of onions and this is what I got in the end Where is the red colour gone? I don't say the colour is not interesting but far from my what I though I would get.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2015 13:51:07 GMT
Hello Halay, I have come to believe with natural saying and eco printing most of the time you always get surprises... I would never expected green... Smile.. I do like those shades of green..
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Post by koffipot on Aug 30, 2015 14:14:49 GMT
Surprises yes, but as Judy says, lovely greens. I have a pot of mulberry papers with flowers and foliage simmering on the stove. My first attempt at contact eco dyeing. I'm not expecting a great result, so anything will be welcome. The Bay tree was taking over, so I need to do more dyeing - or cook for an army! flic.kr/p/x4bejoflic.kr/p/xXTvRQflic.kr/p/xHAb33flic.kr/p/x4jW54
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Post by aphee on Aug 30, 2015 15:24:44 GMT
A beautiful green halay ! for red I would use concentrated madder
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Aug 30, 2015 15:54:15 GMT
It’s really great to see everyone’s results from eco-printing. I plan to try some new leaves from the garden this week. We have birch trees in back and some unknown species as well. I may go snooping in the neighborhood to see if I can find any fallen oak leaves or other enticing bits of greenery. I do have India Flint’s eco-dye book which I use as a general guide, but many of her plants are from Australia, which unfortunately cannot be found in Chicago, Illinois.
On another note, I have been to three different florists in my area and NO ONE carries fresh eucalyptus, but I have found an on-line business in California which will ship them to you for a somewhat reasonable price (but not as reasonable as finding them on the ground).
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Post by Pandagirl on Aug 30, 2015 16:50:50 GMT
Nada I do love the shade of green, but it is a big surprise I'm sure. Did you any type of mordant? You may get different results using one.
Judith, your results should be interesting. Please share.
Cathy, you're right no eucalyptus here. I've looked myself.
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Post by koffipot on Aug 30, 2015 16:54:23 GMT
Still wet, but couldn't wait to unwrap. The iron water gave the dark, purplish shades, whilst the copper gave the yellows. I'm looking forward to trying more of this and know which plants I'll use. CIMG7232 by Judith Robinson, on Flickr
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Post by Pandagirl on Aug 30, 2015 17:01:48 GMT
Gorgeous Judith!
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Post by MTRuth on Aug 30, 2015 17:42:14 GMT
I have found natural dyeing to have very unexpected results as well. Lots of experimentation and time needed to get consistent results.
Love that color green Halay. What kind of pot did you use? If any of the metal from the pot gets in the simmering process, that will change the colors.
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Post by halay on Aug 30, 2015 18:47:27 GMT
I used potassium alum as a mordant and cooked everything in a stainless steel pot .
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Aug 31, 2015 13:36:24 GMT
Eco-dyeing is not for the faint of heart, or for those who want consistent results. And yes, even India Flint has had surprises in using plants for prints. But I think it brings out the “mad scientist” in some of us, which is like being a kid again.
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Post by chookie2 on Sept 2, 2015 6:41:26 GMT
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Post by Shepherdess on Sept 2, 2015 21:14:00 GMT
The green really surprised me, onions has always given me yellow. It didn't seem to matter what kind of onion. it was a mix the last time I did it.
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Post by koffipot on Sept 3, 2015 18:20:16 GMT
Much depends on the season, the hardness of the water, the mordant........ this list is not exhaustive!! It's all great fun though.
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Post by chookie2 on Sept 5, 2015 0:51:41 GMT
yes Judith , she did mention the red fluffy backside to the leaves but mine were new and don"t yet have that fluffy rear to the leaves, later in the season I will try again. I do have some seeds soaking in brandy as a tincture and it has a wonderful vanilla smell and taste and deep brown vanilla colour so the seeds may also give something, will try them in December after harvest.
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