If you want consistent, repeatable colors when modifying your natural dyeing with iron, iron water is not the thing to use. Move along and search online for a recipe to make an iron acetate mordant for anything that requires measurable results. However, if you want to introduce a little bit of chaos, surprise, and pureContinue reading “Iron Water”
Tag Archives: mordants
The Colours of Medieval Ireland II – Tree based colours
There are no end of ways to make colour happen on cloth and wool, the trick is rather to make them stay there. The earliest forms of fixing colours come from what Bríd Mahon (Traditional Dyestuffs in Ireland from Gold Under the Furze) calls “crude native alum [….] from wood ash, human urine, sheep manure,Continue reading “The Colours of Medieval Ireland II – Tree based colours”
My first experiments in natural dyeing
I have some experience with dyeing clothing from when I worked in a theatrical costume shop for a few years. These costumes were dyed in an old washing machine drum that we used exclusively for fabric dyeing, and the dyes we used were packaged Rit, Dylon, or other purchased powders and liquids in bright vibrant,Continue reading “My first experiments in natural dyeing”
Tannins as a mordant
Tannins have been used for centuries both colour and help fix other colurs to fabric and yarn. By themselves they colour these anything from a light beige to brown. They are found naturally occurring in various plant tissues, such as barks, leaves, and fruits, especially woody cones. They are particularly good as a mordant forContinue reading “Tannins as a mordant”
So, what is ‘Mordanting’?
Mordanting is a preparation process used in textile dyeing to improve the uptake and colorfastness of dyes in fibres. The term “mordant” comes from the Latin word “mordere,” which means “to bite.”, so you get me afflicting your mind’s eye with the idea of little chemical agents biting down all eager to get slathered inContinue reading “So, what is ‘Mordanting’?”