Some time ago, I tried to dye with bugleweed (Ajuga reptans). I brought the flowering bugleweed to a boil which turned the water blue. After letting the dye simmer for a few minutes, the water became green. Despite the promising colors, neither the blue nor the green water dyed wool yarn or cotton fabric. But the blue and green colored water is so pretty, isn’t it?
Category Archives: Natural Dyeing & Printing
How To Dye With Avocado Skins
I dyed silk and cotton fabric with avocado skins. It’s a nice peach dye which doesn’t need a mordant. I dried the skins and chopped seeds of two avocados. The chopped avocado seeds become more red after contact with the air. Then I boiled the avocado skins, seeds and water for about one hour. The dye solution becomes reddish brown while boiling.
Then without removing the avocado pits and skins, I boiled the dye with the fabric again for about one hour. Some of the fabric I removed after that from the dye bath, while some of the fabric I left soaking till the next morning.
How To Make Medieval Blackthorn Ink – A Tutorial
Blackthorn ink was one of the most used inks in medieval Europe; other ancient inks are oak gall ink and India ink. I was curious how blackthorn ink would write, so I’ve made some. The ink isn’t difficult to make, it just takes some time. I’ve written a tutorial, so that you can make your own blackthorn ink. Continue reading How To Make Medieval Blackthorn Ink – A Tutorial
Dyeing Cotton Yellow With Dandelion Flowers (Without Mordant)
I’ve dyed some cotton fabric yellow with dandelion flowers. I’ve gathered a potful of dandelion flowers, and boiled them for about an hour with some water. Then I’ve removed the flowers, and cooked the fabric again for about an hour in the dyebath. The prewashed, unmordanted, white cotton fabric turned a pretty pale yellow. I’ve exposed the fabric to the sun for some time and washed it: the color seems to be lightfast and wash fast.
How To Print Fabric With Indian Wood Block Stamps
This is a short tutorial about how I print fabric with my Indian wood block stamps. In the comments, Asha asked how I’d printed my full circle lehenga. Continue reading How To Print Fabric With Indian Wood Block Stamps
Indian Wood Block Stamps
Here are some pictures of my Indian wooden stamps which I use to print fabric and clothes. Some of the stamps are bought, such as the elephant, flower etc, and some of the stamps I made myself, such as the big circle and three border stamps. Continue reading Indian Wood Block Stamps
DIY Polka Dot Print Fabric – Tutorial
I made my own polka dot fabric with fabric paint and a pencil eraser for my 1920s dress! Continue reading DIY Polka Dot Print Fabric – Tutorial
DIY Printed Top
I printed a boring white top with my website logo! Yay! 😀 I used plastic sheet and a craft knife to cut a stencil; then I printed the top with mint green and pink silk paint. Continue reading DIY Printed Top
How To Dye Leather Black Naturally
Dye leather black naturally with just vinegar and iron! Continue reading How To Dye Leather Black Naturally
Resist Printing Trials
I tried some resist printing with different pastes using flour, starch, wax and oil. I was inpired from the following articles: Indian resist printing with wax, African mud cloth (bogolanfini) made with starch resist, soy wax printing, different wax resist instructions, and flour paste resist printing. All, except the starch-water-solution, couldn’t be applied with my Indian wooden print stamps. Continue reading Resist Printing Trials