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Showing posts with label natural dyes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural dyes. Show all posts

Friday, May 4, 2012

Dyeing with bee balm

This was once a white shirt.  I felt like some fun today, so gathered up some tired looking
bee balm flowers (red) and one or two pieces of greenery. 
The shirt was pre soaked in vinegar and salt then spread with my plant material, rolled up
tightly and secured. 



The bee balm was happy to provide  some colour for this tired old shirt.
Surprisingly that colour was pink!


Those rusty colours and charcoal grey came from two bulldog clips helping to hold the fabric
in a bundle for the dyeing process.  I like the unplanned contrasts.



The grey/charcoal colouring came from two large paperclips.  They also produced
the rust colouring as well.
The contrast is rather good, I think.


I steamed the shirt, tightly rolled in my dye pot for two hours.
It really was fun way to spend a few hours.

If you want to do something different and feel like playing,  I recommend giving this a go.
Heaps of fun and the results are surprising.  Some colours may not be colourfast but thats all
part of the process.  The colours are interesting and if they don't work first time round you can always have another go using different plant materials and techniques.


I wonder how many of my readers
enjoy dyeing with plants?
Would love to hear from you.
Cheers,
Joan.

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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Naturally Dyed Fabric and Lace



Blogger has been playing up!  The above photo was originally part of my posting below. 
One of three photos.  Blogger didn't want it and tossed it aside.  So here it is.
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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Eco Colour - Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles.


Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles








I pulled this book off the shelf at the local Library. It is written by an Australian women called India Flint.

If you google her name you will find she has a blog and other web sites which are also full of interest.
India loves to share her vast knowledge and experiences of Natural Dyeing.
It is beautifully illustrated and is a great resource for novices like myself or more experienced dyers.
If you want to have a closer look at the book click the Eco Colour link above.