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Post by koffipot on Nov 6, 2015 20:25:52 GMT
Phase 1 (mordanting) of my 20 shades is complete. Merino yarn. A - D unmordanted, E - H iron water, I - L copper water, M - P alum.  Dyeing experiment -mordants by Judith Robinson, on Flickr Phase 2 (dyeing) is done and drying and due to a stupid miscalculation,  I shall have to do a bit of tweaking to get to Phase 3 (modifying) |
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Nov 6, 2015 20:28:42 GMT
Difficult to see the 20 shades…computer monitor, I guess. What is the grand goal for this experiment? (not that there has to be one…)
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Post by koffipot on Nov 6, 2015 20:31:31 GMT
Difficult to see the 20 shades…computer monitor, I guess. What is the grand goal for this experiment? (not that there has to be one…) Only 4 shades so far. This is just the mordanting phase.  |
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Nov 6, 2015 20:34:06 GMT
AAh, yes, the mordanting. How soon we forget. So glad to hear my monitor is not faulty.
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Post by Teri Berry on Nov 6, 2015 23:33:21 GMT
Ooh goody! An experiment! The mad scientist in me loves experiments, I'm itching to see the results |
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Post by Pandagirl on Nov 7, 2015 0:35:12 GMT
Great start Judith, can't wait to see next phase.
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Post by koffipot on Nov 7, 2015 10:49:46 GMT
Phase 2:- Having been mordanted, all dyed in eucalyptus bark and ready for the 4 modifiers today, which will with luck give 20 shades. ABCDE unmordanted, FGHIJ iron water, KLMNO copper water, PQRST alum flic.kr/p/AaMMpj |
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Post by zed on Nov 7, 2015 11:52:06 GMT
What are modifiers?
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Nov 7, 2015 13:53:41 GMT
What do you plan to do with all your wonderful hand-dyed yarn? Is it also handspun?
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Post by koffipot on Nov 7, 2015 14:13:15 GMT
Modifiers give different shades to the dyed fibre. As a rough guide:- Acid -makes yellower tones, e.g redss to orange, purples to pinks, rusts to yellows. Alkali - purples to greens, yellows to pinks, reds to pinks. Copper - yellows to greens, reds to browns, ochres to browns Iron - has a saddening effect. yellows to olive, reds to purple/brown, beige towards purple. |
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Post by Teri Berry on Nov 7, 2015 14:34:18 GMT
On my screen the alum looks very similar to water, what is the mordant supposed to do?
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Post by koffipot on Nov 7, 2015 14:39:30 GMT
On my screen the alum looks very similar to water, what is the mordant supposed to do? Mordants help the fibres to 'grab' the dye. Also helps with light and colour fastness. Alum tends to give a brighter dye. The light was very poor here when I took the photos and the different shades aren't showing up. Of course my lack of photography skills doesn't help. Fibres now modified and drying. 20 subtle shades achieved, though I don't know how they'll show up on a photograph! |
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Post by koffipot on Nov 7, 2015 14:46:58 GMT
What do you plan to do with all your wonderful hand-dyed yarn? Is it also handspun? Not handspun Cathy, just some leftover yarn. This is just an experiment, but I'll probably dye a larger quantity for knitting, though spinning enough yarn of a usable standard for a garment on a drop spindle is beyond my capability. I'll be buying ready spun - my local yarn shop haas a good selection of undyed yarns at a reasonable price. |
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Post by Pandagirl on Nov 7, 2015 14:54:19 GMT
The picture is gone Judith, but I went onto your Fl or account and all the threads look the same. I hope the next phase brings better differences. |
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Post by koffipot on Nov 7, 2015 16:22:20 GMT
Thanks Marilyn, I'll try in better light if we get any!!! |
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I shall have to do a bit of tweaking to get to Phase 3 (modifying)
