4. Biochromes¶

Homemade iron juice¶

day 1 :
put iron in a jar
cover with 1 part of water + 2 parts of vinegar
close the jar
day 2:
put the juice in another jar and let the jar with iron open all day
day 3:
reverse the vinegar in the jar with iron
keep going day after day during a week or 2 until juice become orange

Prepare Fabrics & Fibers¶

I choose to test the dying process on many fiber and fabrics in order to make a "nuancier"

Fiber : - Coton & Bamboo (vegetal) - Alpaca (animal) - Linen (vegetal)

I made 6 small "echeveau" of each fibres, I plan to knit them after the dying

Fabric : - Vintage weaving wool (animal) - Silk (animal) - Coton (vegetal) - Coton & Linen (vegetal)

I made 12 square of each fabrics, 20cm by 20 cm

I wash the fabric and fiber with Marseille's soap

Mordanting¶

Alun + Tatar Cream for the animal ones Alun only for the vegetal ones

I add warm water and leave it all night.

I rince them the next morning

Mordant iron paste¶

I also prepare a mordant iron paste by mixing my iron juice with argile

Avocado¶

I use no mordant on fabrics ans fibres for this dying.
After 1h boiling / put it in a jar to make the dying the next day / Simmer With fabric and fibre the next morning
After 20 min, I took off some of the f&f, still wet here
The 20 min bath's f&f dry
The 45 min bath's f&f dry
The fabric with iron paste drawing
Then I put the fabric with the iron paste drawing.
But the clay was not well dry, and the bath start to change and become darker. I read I have to fix this paste, i should use a ashes laundry, I've missed this part.
I leave the fabric just a few minute

I had iron juice, the bath turn into a dark grey purple wich I love. I leave the fabric for 15 min.

Label¶

This is the template I decide to go with. I still need to fill it for all the fabric/fibre/bath dye I've made this week.

Curcuma¶

Boilling 4 avocado peels and nuts for 1 hour I put it in a jar to make the dying the next day

First, I simmer the bath and the fabrics and fibers (with no mordant)

I made a second cold bath with new fabric with alun mordant, I leave it all night.

Red Cabbage¶

Boil the cabbage for 40 min with the fabrics and fabric. I kept the juice and the fabrics in a jar without the cabbage.

I had iron juice in a part of the previous bath. It turn blue, I add the fabric and leave it in all night.

Matcha Tea¶

I made a decotion of matcha tea and simmer with the fabric for 40 min. I put it in a jar and leave it all night

Nettle¶

I made a decotion of ortie and simmer with the fabric for 40 min. I put it in a jar with the leave and leave it all night

Hibiscus¶

I made a decotion of hibiscus for 45min and simmer with the fabric for 1h. I put it in a jar with the flower and leave it all night. When I rince them they all turn purple/blue

Next Step¶

Making inks¶

I kept all the bath I had. I will reduce them by boiling and try to make inks with.

Digital Painting¶

I want to try the Zmorph with a seringe and print onto fabrics with vegetal inks