All Eco Printing Projects Post Number Technique & Example Equipment & Materials Method 1.2 Dyeing Test Samples steamer cooking pot sprayer containing 50% water and 50% white vinegar lidded plastic sandwich box (or substitute) ferrous sulphate elastic bands and strong jute string 4 x ceramic tiles (or similar) 18 pieces of (scoured and mordanted) silk noil approx. 12cm x 12cm 18 pieces of (mordanted) watercolour or khadi paper (or similar) approx. 12cm x 12cm scissors 9 different plants some foliage for the dye pot table covering e.g. re-usable plastic sheet 1. lay out two ceramic tiles facing upwards and two facing down 2. lay a piece of silk noil over each face up tile and spray with vinegar water 3. choose your first variety of plant. Dip some (or all) in iron. Lay some face up and some face down. 4. label and photograph if you wish 5. spray your watercolour/khadi paper and place over your plants 6. repeat this process for each plant variety 7. place your face down tiles on top of the bundles 8. squeeze tightly and secure with heavy duty elastic bands or string to create a tight bond 9. place one bundle in the steamer 10. place the other in your dye pot with garden foliage (and any left over) plus hot water to cover 11. cook both for 2 hours then allow to dry by a boiler/radiator overnight (don't worry if it doesn't dry thoroughly)
1.4 Bundling Techniques a. ghost roll (equipment and materials for all post 1.4 samples) steamer dye pot (with local foliage and water) plants you identified as useful during testing and others to experiment with 2 x ceramic tiles heavy duty elastic bands and string scissors copper pipe 2 x twigs (N.B. I mention using a wooden dowel, you can use your second twig instead) plastic pipe 5 x silk hankies 2 x silk noil squares (approx. 24cm x 24cm) 1 x long silk oil strip (approx 12cm x 48cm) watercolour/khadi paper kitchen roll 1. lay silk hankie front side up and spray with vinegar water 3. place face down and up on your cloth 4. roll silk tightly around copper pipe, pulling to keep taut as you roll 5. tie with string 6. cook for 2 hours in the dye bath and allow to cool 7. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing
b. clean roll c. mirror roll 1. lay silk hankie front side up and spray with vinegar water 3. place face down and up on your cloth 4. cover your fabric and foliage with vinegar sprayed paper 5. roll it all tightly around plastic pipe, pulling to keep taut as you roll 6. wrap paper around outside then tie with string 7. cook for 2 hours in the steamer and allow to cool 8. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing 1. lay silk noil down and spray with vinegar water 3. place face down and up on only one side of your cloth 4. fold cloth in half to cover the foliage 5. roll silk tightly around a smooth twig, pulling to keep taut as you roll 6. tie with string 7. cook for 2 hours in the dye bath and allow to cool
d. sandwich roll e. fold and clamp 8. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing 1. lay silk noil down and spray with vinegar water 3. place face down and up on your cloth 4. spray a silk hankie with vinegar water and lay face down on the foliage 5. roll silk tightly around a smooth twig, pulling to keep taut as you roll 6. tie with string 7. cook for 2 hours in the dye bath and allow to cool 8. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing 1. lay the end of your silk noil strip on one of your ceramic tiles and spray with vinegar water 3. place face down and up on first section of your cloth 4. begin concertina (accordion) folding your fabric, just applying foliage to one side
f. bundle and bind 5. place other ceramic tile smooth side down on your bundle and bind with elastic bands or string 6. cook for 2 hours in the steamer and allow to cool 7. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing 1. lay one silk hankie front side up and spray with vinegar water 2. sprinkle flower petals etc. all over your fabric 3. spray the other hankie with vinegar water and place on top of petals 4. roll silk tightly, pulling to keep taut as you roll 5. tie with string or elastic bands 6. cook for 2 hours in the steamer and allow to cool 7. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing 2.2 iron blankets steamer plants you identified as useful during testing and others to experiment with scissors and string copper/pvc pipe or twig etc. 3 x silk hankies 1. choose whether you'd like to create a reusable iron blanket from an old piece of fabric e.g. sheeting, cut up garment or use a piece of your sample material 2. soak your iron blanket in your solution of ferrous sulphate and water (approx. half a teaspoon to a litre of water)
1 x piece of old fabric kitchen roll dye blankets madder dye extract or dye steamer plants you identified as useful during testing and others to experiment with scissors and string copper/pvc pipe or twig etc. 2 x silk hankies (or 1 with dye blanket) 2 x 24cm x 24cm silk noil squares (or 1 with dye blanket) 3. spray your sample fabric with 50% white vinegar and 50% water 4. lay your foliage on your fabric, some face up and some face down (or as you wish!) 5. lightly wring out your iron blanket and carefully lay on top of your foliage 6. roll tightly and tie with string 7. repeat process using 2 habotai silk hankies (one dipped in iron) 8. steam for 2 hours and leave to cool/dry overnight before unbundling and ironing 1. choose whether you'd like to create a reusable dye blanket from an old piece of fabric e.g. sheeting, cut up garment or use a piece of your sample material 2. soak your dye blanket in your solution of dye extract and water (approx. 10% WOF or until you feel it's a strong enough colour) 3. spray your habotai silk hanky with 50% white vinegar and 50% water 4. choose whether to dip your foliage in iron or not then lay it on your fabric, some face up and some face down (or as you wish!) 5. lightly wring out your dye blanket and carefully lay on top of your foliage
kitchen roll 6. roll tightly and tie with string 7. repeat process using two 24cm x 24cm pieces of silk noil 8. steam both for 2 hours and leave to cool/dry overnight before unbundling and ironing 2.4 discharging plants: cochineal madder and logwood dye extract or dye steamer plants you identified as useful during testing and others to experiment with scissors and string copper/pvc pipe or twig etc. 2 x silk hankies (or 1 with dye blanket) 2 x 24cm x 24cm silk noil squares (or 1 with dye blanket) kitchen roll dissolve approximately half a teaspoon of cochineal extract into 3 litres of warm water (or 10% WOF) and stir lower a silk handkerchief into the dye, stir and leave to soak on a low heat for 15-30 minutes depending on how dark you'd like your dye gently wring out the fabric and place flat with the right side up dip your foliage in iron (or not) and lay alternatively face up and down on half of your fabric fold the remaining half over to sandwich your leaves straighten and roll whilst pulling tight tie with string and steam for 2 hours before allowing to cool and dry overnight discharging plants: logwood (materials as above) dissolve approximately half a teaspoon of
logwood extract into 3 litres of warm water (or 10% WOF) and stir lower 2 silk handkerchiefs into the dye, stir and leave to soak on a low heat for 15-30 minutes depending on how dark you'd like your dye gently wring out the fabric and place flat with the right side up dip your foliage in iron (or not) and lay face up on your fabric lay your other handkerchief on top to sandwich your leaves straighten and roll whilst pulling tight tie with string and steam for 2 hours before allowing to cool and dry overnight multi- coloured eco prints foliage pre-soaked in madder/cochineal and logwood steamer scissors and string copper/pvc pipe or twig etc. 2 x silk hankies 2 x 24cm x 24cm silk noil squares kitchen roll pre-soak your leaves etc. for 48 hours in concentrated dye extracts (experiment with the strength) or use up your exhaust baths lay out your silk noil and spray with vinegar water drain your leaves on kitchen roll place leaves on fabric roll up or place another piece of fabric or iron blanket on top before rolling and tying with string repeat process with habotai silk hankies steam for 2 hours, allow to cool and dry overnight
Now it s time to play at combining all these techniques. There are too many possibilities to include in a 4 week workshop but use your remaining fabric to experiment. With this foundation of core skills you can let your imagination to run wild! For example:- combine the discharged print technique using pre- dyed fabric with an iron blanket on top try a pre- dyed fabric in another colour with a dye blanket in another colour with your foliage sandwiched in between place pre- dyed foliage on white fabric and use an iron blanket on top pre- dye your foliage then use a different coloured dye blanket e.g. foliage dyed with madder and logwood dye blanket * rinsing can be done the following week allowing time for the dye to sit within the fibres of the fabric. Use a ph neutral (eco) washing up liquid and warm water to hand wash gently. Rinse, then condition with eco fabric conditioner. Rinse again, dry and iron.