MISA Workshop Continued.....

July 14th, 2013

    It has been a busy and rewarding week.  I have learned the basics about eco-printing and can't wait to get started back here.  The recommended fabrics to bring were silk and wool, both of which were not available at the local JoAnn Fabrics, so I bought cotton and muslin.  The reason silk and wool were suggested is that they take the color and print the best.  My first attempt with the cotton yielded disappointing results.  I learned that cotton does not take up the color unless it has been pre-mordanted.

First Attempt

The instructor suggested that I use a milk mordant to bring out some color.  This was new to me, but I was told that a cellulose fabric needs a protein to set it.  I went back and redid a couple of the squares along with some donated silks.  One of the aspects of working with a small group like this is that everyone is willing to share.  Lucky for me!

Second Attempt

 This second attempt yielded better results.  The top two in the middle are silk.

Final Project

 Once all of the pieces were dyed, we stitched them together.  You can see the piece in the middle does not have much color on it.  I did not re-dye this piece, but chose to use it with other dyed pieces on top. We thought we were done at this point, but she surprised us by cutting up her sample into quarters and positioning it on another piece of fabric.  In fact, we could make those pieces even smaller!  I did not have the right piece of fabric to mount mine on, so I will complete it once I find something.

Book Before Dyeing

Another project we worked on was to make a book out of paper.  We stitched pieces of fabric onto the paper, then cut it so that it could be folded.  Here is mine before going into the dye bath.

The next step was to fill the pages with plant material found outside.  Above are a few pictures of my collections.  Once all of the pages have been filled, the book is wrapped tightly in a cloth and placed in the dye bath.

Bundle

Final Outcome

This book can now be refolded and kept for notes and thoughts as I wander on my journey of eco-printing.  All in all this has been a wonderful workshop.  I enjoyed the company of my fellow dyers, the bike rides into town, the exploration at an Indian cemetery, the homemade soup by India Flint, the Apples to Apples game at night and of course, learning how to eco-dye!

Is Alum a Safe Mordant for Baby Clothes?

Yes! I use alum in my mordant process. Mordanting is a means by which to help the fabric take the dye. Depending on whether or not your fabric is a plant based material versus an animal based material (wool), you will need to choose different types of mordants. Some dyes do not require mordants. Avocados and walnut hull dyes for example do not require mordants to adhere to the fabrics. 

Aluminum Sulfate (alum) is a substance found in the earth and can be used to help brighten colors. It can also extend the color life on the fabric. It however can be an irritant if applied to the skin. For my dyeing, only  a small quantity of alum is required. After I wash the garment, it is perfectly safe for an infant to wear.

To make sure alum was a safe mordant, I contacted the regional poison control center number listed on the Center for Disease Control website. The operator informed me that after the garment is properly washed, the alum should not be harmful to the child. He also informed me that large volumes of alum must be ingested in a child with kidney deficiencies, in order for it to have poisonous effects. 

It is very important when dyeing, that you make sure that all of the elements you use are safe for you or your family and friends. I recommend contacting the free poison control number (1-800-222-1222) to verify that all of your substances are safe. 

Happy and safe dyeing!