One can never be bored with Natural Dyeing process. Because the process rests upon way too many variables. A single variable switches its value, and here you go, a brand new effect! Even if you think you know a lot, you cannot get too much of dyeing practice. Especially with Contact Dyeing, as Socrates once said, The more you know, the more you realize you know nothing.
My way of contact dye extraction I compare to espresso coffee making: fast, hot, full-flavoured. The right pressure and temperature are the keys to the process. My little invention to distribute pressure equally onto the working surfaces, which is described here and here, also proves to be a fabulous space saver.
With this much of place that a long sleeved T-shirt occupies, I can pretty much do three at a time and make use of this precious time saver!
My new old pressure cooker. This way I can comfortably do some Winter time natural dye extraction indoors.
This tear-opens easily, stays free of bath impurities, and I like the transparent surface, because I am naturally curious.
Also, it kind of remembers the form, until you start unrolling…
In Winter I use my stored dry leaves. I store plenty. And now, as I am removing them from cloth, it brings up the memories of the days I was picking leaves… Maybe it is because of the flavour and the warmth of the cloth the moment it opens.
The wet thing is left to drip for a while, and then it goes to the washing machine.
Now, this is washed and dry and ready to wear 🙂
Занимаясь натуральным крашением, соскучиться невозможно. Весь процесс зиждется на переменных, изменение одной приводит к возникновению неожиданного эффекта. И значение богатого практического опыта крашения нельзя переоценить, даже при наличии глубоких теоретических познаний. Как свидетельствовал Сократ, “чем больше я знаю, тем больше понимаю, что не знаю ничего”.
Свой метод контактной экстракции я сравниваю с эспрессо кофеприготовлением: быстро, горячо и ароматно. Ключевые условия – правильное давление и такая же температура. Мое небольшое изобретение для равномерного распределения давления в процессе экстракции, оно описано здесь и здесь, также позволяет сэкономить большое количество рабочего пространства. Например, уместить трикотажную футболку с длинным рукавом таким образом, что в кастрюле разместятся еще три такие же. Вместо обычной кастрюли теперь можно использовать особую! Маленькую и быструю, что весьма удобно зимой.
Пластик легко срывается, а ткань под ним остается держать его форму, пока не начнешь разворачивать. Еще, мне нравится прозрачная поверхность – можно подсмотреть, что внутри. Зимой я использую сухие заготовленные листья. У меня их много. Когда открываешь еще теплую ткань и снимаешь каждый лист, вдруг вспоминаются летние дни… Наверно, это тепло ткани и аромат трав… Затем мокрую вещь оставляю стекать не на долго, а затем в стирку. Выстиранная и высушенная, готова к использованию 🙂
June 11th, 2015 at 21:43
Elena, I tried your bottle method and it worked like magic. I did a cotton sweater which had a soy mordant from a year ago with eucalyptus leaves. The colours are beautiful and bright with great leaf definition. Thanks for the help with choosing a size of bottle. I must make the time to read your entire blog. I just noticed your post on birch and poplar. I did birch earlier this week on silk with great results. I can see why you like it so much. So now I will try poplar. The two of them together are really nice. What an abundance of info here on your site. Thank you.
June 12th, 2015 at 02:48
Oh, this is really great, Darlene, Thank you for letting me know of your experience! I am so glad my method worked for you!
June 8th, 2015 at 20:17
Elena, thank you so much for so freely sharing your information. I am trying your bottle method this morning. Was wondering how small in diameter a bottle can shrink to. For example, if I was wanting to try a very thin piece of silk rolled into a very small roll, would a small bottle shrink to fit such a tiny bundle? It would only be about 1 and a half inches in diameter? Your work is so gorgeous and your ideas are most helpful. Thanks!
June 9th, 2015 at 02:17
Darlene, always run a few tests to see the shrinkage rate of your bottle, as various types of food plastic bottles shrink differently. From my experience, the diameter should be a bit wider than your folded fabric, just enough to fit it inside. Then it will shrink alright to press fabric. If too small a piece is placed inside much bigger bottle, the shrinkage will not be even, it can shrink on one part, while the rest will not be pressed, if you see what I mean. Sometimes I just put multiple smaller pieces into one bottle, until the necessary amount of space within the bottle is occupied. Thank you very much for your kind words!
February 26th, 2015 at 14:49
Elena, how do you pre-treat the fabric before rolling in the leaves. What mordent do you use? Is the fabric wet when adding the leaves?
February 26th, 2015 at 16:37
Pretreating fabrics incudes several stages, such as, washing, scouting, mordanting. I prefer using FeSO4 and ALK, and there are several procedures of treating with lxi fatty acids, tannins and metal salts which I follow. The prepared fabric should be soaked overnight in tab water before dyeing session. It is the best. The fabric, however, should not be soaking wet as you apply leaves on the surface. This means that after presoaking the fabric you should let it drip to semidry state. Hope, this makes sense 🙂
February 26th, 2015 at 17:43
I know about iron but is ALK soda ash? And you soak the fabric with BOTH at the same time?
February 26th, 2015 at 17:47
I meant alum. No, not all in once. Different procedures.
February 26th, 2015 at 19:53
Thank you for clarifying that!
February 13th, 2015 at 15:37
just beautiful-love your work
Kathy
February 14th, 2015 at 01:56
Thank you, Kathy
February 4th, 2015 at 19:28
Great stuff here! Thanks for sharing!
February 4th, 2015 at 21:18
Thanks!
February 4th, 2015 at 04:56
I can’t wait to try this. the used plastic bottle can still go into the re-cycle bin. Thank you for sharing your ‘new invention’!
February 4th, 2015 at 13:27
Thank you!
February 4th, 2015 at 04:00
You got such great definition and depth of colors! Great!
February 4th, 2015 at 13:27
Thank you, dear Rachel!
February 4th, 2015 at 03:05
Beautiful ,Elena! Thankyou. Did you treat your T-shirt first?
February 4th, 2015 at 13:26
Yes, of course.
February 4th, 2015 at 02:57
You do not wait for days or weeks or months to open the bottles? You open them right out of the pot? Would it work in a plain pot with boiling water? I do not have a pressure cooker.
Diane
February 4th, 2015 at 03:03
Hello Diane, Yes, the way I conduct contact extraction, my technique, requires you open the fabric almost immediately after boiling, allowing to cool down to touch. I usually do boiling and it takes 80-90 min, while with pressure cooker time reduces to 20-30min. It does not matter wether a regular boiling or pressure cooker is used, provided you allow the right amount of time. You may want to browse my blog and find more info on the process I use.
February 4th, 2015 at 02:42
Can’t wait to try that, Elena! You are very generous to share this. Thank you so much.
February 4th, 2015 at 02:58
Dear Wendy, so glad to know! Thank you!