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4. BioChromes

Research

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"the main difference in Iceland is that the country´s location as a small island far ot at at sea means that there are relatively few species here compared with many other countries. Iceland has approximatrly 500 species of vasclar plans, while there are 1,300 in Norway and 4,000 to 6,000 in Britan and Ireland. The Possibilities for plant dyeing are therefore far greater in Iceland´s neighbouring countries. Whereas they can obtan any colur from natural sources, in Iceland it is difficult to get hold of red, while a durable blue colour is probably impossible to to source naturally in Iceland. As a result Icelandic dyeing traditions inevitably rely to some extent on species brought in from aabroad, at least during the past three centuries. The history of dyeing in Iceland can be divided into four periods and these periods do not correspond to traditional historical periods." * Text reference - PLANT DYEING IN ICELAND by Guðrún Bjarnadóttir

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References & Inspiration

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Links to reference files, PDF, booklets,

Tip
  1. Remember to credit/reference all your images to their authors. Open source helps us create change faster together, but we all deserve recognition for what we make, design, think, develop.

  2. remember to resize and optimize all your images. You will run out of space and the more data, the more servers, the more cooling systems and energy wasted :) make a choice at every image :) This image is optimised in size with resolution 72 and passed through tinypng for final optimisation.


Mordanting

To keep colors from natural dyes vibrant and resistant to washing out, a mordant is used. The term mordant means "to bite," as it helps the dye "bite" into the fabric fibers, improving dye retention. A mordant is usually a natural chemical, like aluminum, which forms a bond at the molecular level with the fabric, allowing it to hold onto the dye more effectively.

In this process, I used vinegar as a substitute mordant. While vinegar isn’t a true mordant, it helps open up the fabric fibers, making them more receptive to the dye. Ideally, I wanted to use an aluminum-based mordant, but it wasn’t available locally in Iceland.

This preparatory step is crucial for achieving long-lasting, colorfast results. By preparing the fabric with a mordant, you enhance the durability and vibrancy of the colors, ensuring they don’t easily fade and preserving the beauty of your dyed pieces.

ingredients
  • 500 ml Vinegar
  • 500 ml Water

Fabric

  • Hemp
  • Cotton
  • Lycra

yarn

  • Cotton 2x
  • Hemp
  • Jute
  • Nylon
  • Recycled Cotton

Ribbon

  • Silk 2x
  • Satin 2x

Step 1

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Step 2

describe what you see in this image

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."


Preparation, Ingredients & Recipes

I quartered the cabbage, then cut each quarter into smaller pieces, ending up with eight sections, which I further chopped finely. I added 1700 ml of water to a pot, brought it to a rolling boil, and let the cabbage boil for 2 hours. Once softened, I used a mixer to emulsify the cabbage, then continued boiling the mixture for an additional 2 hours before allowing it to cool. Afterward, I strained the mixture twice—first through a coffee filter, then through cheesecloth—to ensure a smooth dye solution.

Step 1

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

amount

1523.9615g

Step 2

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Step 3

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Step 3

ingredients

Part 1: Salt only

100% solution: 425 ml dye + 4 tablespoons salt
50% solution: 212.5 ml dye + 212.5 ml water + 4 tablespoons salt
25% solution: 106.25 ml dye + 318.75 ml water + 4 tablespoons salt
12.5% solution: 53.125 ml dye + 371.875 ml water + 4 tablespoons salt

Part 2: Salt and baking soda

100% solution: 425 ml dye + 4 tablespoons salt + 4 tablespoons baking soda
50% solution: 212.5 ml dye + 212.5 ml water + 4 tablespoons salt + 4 tablespoons baking soda
25% solution: 106.25 ml dye + 318.75 ml water + 4 tablespoons salt + 4 tablespoons baking soda
12.5% solution: 53.125 ml dye + 371.875 ml water + 4 tablespoons salt + 4 tablespoons baking soda

describe what you see in this image

During the dyeing process with Part 2, I noticed that some of the fabric turned green in the 50% and 12.5% solutions, likely due to a chemical reaction with the Teflon pot, where some areas were worn. The mixture’s pH seemed to have interacted with the exposed metal, altering the dye color.


Red Cabbage

Red Cabbage Baking Soda

Red Cabbage Cream of Tartar

Red Cabbage Vinegar


Ingredients & Recipes

Prepare this recipe 1 by collecting the ingredients necessary, to be found in the list below:

ingredients
  • xxx gr madder root
  • xxx gr alum
  • xxx gr fabric
  • xxx ml xxx
  • xxx gr xxx

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Tools

Step 1

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Step 2

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Step 3

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Step 4

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Violet


Ingredients & Recipes

Prepare this recipe 1 by collecting the ingredients necessary, to be found in the list below:

ingredients
  • xxx gr madder root
  • xxx gr alum
  • xxx gr fabric
  • xxx ml xxx
  • xxx gr xxx

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum."

Tools

Step 1

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Step 2

describe what you see in this image

My first step was too..... Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Lupine


summary
  1. Remember to credit/reference all your images to their authors. Open source helps us create change faster together, but we all deserve recognition for what we make, design, think, develop.

  2. remember to resize and optimize all your images. You will run out of space and the more data, the more servers, the more cooling systems and energy wasted :) make a choice at every image :) This image is optimised in size with resolution 72 and passed through tinypng for final optimisation.

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Recipes


  1. recipe: banana indigo