| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| RachelLeigh |
Posted - Sep 05 2007 : 11:48:00 AM
This weekend, I dyed 3 yards of muslin in a dye made from boiling walnut hulls. It makes the neatest, old-fashioned brown dye. I have been tea-dying my muslin but the walnut fabric is much richer and darker in color. I made a doll in the fabric and she looks great! I recommend you try it if you're looking for an old, antique brown fabric.
my blog: http://catholiccountrygirl.wordpress.com
my website: http://www.backwoodsjunction.com |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| RachelLeigh |
Posted - Sep 06 2007 : 6:37:36 PM
So far, I've been pleased with with the results of the natural dye on muslin. But I'm going for a specific, uneven, aged look so it's turning out better than I had hoped. I'm a newbie at all this, though.
my blog: http://catholiccountrygirl.wordpress.com
my country folk art business website: http://www.backwoodsjunction.com |
| Shirley |
Posted - Sep 06 2007 : 6:31:50 PM
Walnut hulls have thier own mordant, along with lichens.
The berrries and flowers have to have some kinda mordant or it will wash out or the color it makes will fade very fast. I have dyed wool,mohair, silk and other fibers.its hard to dye cotton with the natural dye, you almost need a procian or other commerical dyes made for cotton.
shirley |
| RachelLeigh |
Posted - Sep 06 2007 : 1:44:46 PM
I simmer the fabric in a vinegar and water fixative for an hour before I dye it (4 parts water to 1 part vinegar.) I've also tried a salt/water fixative but it didn't seem to work as well. Then I dry the fabric in the dryer on high heat after it's out of the dye bath and rinsed.
my blog: http://catholiccountrygirl.wordpress.com
my country folk art business website: http://www.backwoodsjunction.com |
| Julia |
Posted - Sep 06 2007 : 11:45:52 AM
rachel, do you use any mordants in your dyes?
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
| RachelLeigh |
Posted - Sep 05 2007 : 12:27:01 PM
Golden rod made a great antique yellow dye(I posted a how-to on my blog). I have tried to make a pink dye twice with pokeberries and it's been a bust both times. The dye will the richest magenta color and will soak for just hours. My hands and arms and everything will be stained but all the color washed out both times when I went to rinse it before putting it in the dryer to set. I also made a dye from willow bark, which is supposed to produce a salmon color, but it just looked like I'd spilled a little bit of weak tea on the fabric. It's trial and error but I enjoy making naturally-dyed fabrics!
my blog: http://catholiccountrygirl.wordpress.com
my country folk art business website: http://www.backwoodsjunction.com |
| Julia |
Posted - Sep 05 2007 : 11:53:01 AM
Good for you! Isn't it fun? I made some walnut dye and used it for some wool I spun. It turned the wool a wonderful warm carmel color. I am wanting to use some blackberries to dye some other wool I spun to see what it will do. I also want to try tansy and red yarrow.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
