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Category: How To’s

Home Bleaching of Silk, Wool, Cotton, and Hemp

Bleaching with peroxide is an effective and safe way to whiten all natural fibers.  Here is what you will use : 1 pint bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), 3%This is the strength commonly available at grocery stores and pharmacies. 100 g / 4 oz white silk (eri, cultivated silk, mulberry silk, bombyx mori silk) or […]

Degumming Silkworm Cocoons

To process your cocoons into silk fiber to hand-spin or for cosmetic poofs, and for an excellent silk protein hair shampoo-conditioner, just follow these steps : Wet the cocoons in warm water to cover. Add Dr. Bronner’s soap. For 100 cocons, use 1 cup. For 30 cocoons, use ½ cup. Or, use 1 cup per […]

Caring for Silk Fabric

NEVER SCOUR SILK!Boiling and use of any harsh detergents will damage the fiber! Any un-coated natural silk will dye well without the need for any kind of scouring process. Wash either by hand, or in a washing machine!  When using a washing machine, set to a gentle cycle, warm water.  Air dry or tumble dry […]

Indigo Natural Fermentation Vat

Indigo is a dye different than any other. It is dyed through a living fermentation process that does not require any mordant. The process “reduces” the Indigo, changing it from blue to yellow. In this state, it dissolves in an alkaline solution. The fibre is worked in the solution, or “vat.” When brought out to […]

Colors: The Dyes That Make Them

Reds Scarlet = brightest flame: Cochineal with Tin. Crimson = “American Beauty” Rose Red: Cochineal with Alum. Magenta = bright rich red with a slightly violet tone: Cochineal with Alum, ammonia and possibly a pinch of Iron or Copper after. Christmas Red = Brazilwood with Alum. Magenta = Brazilwood with Alum and a pinch of Iron after. Oriental Carpet Red = Madder with Alum. Ecclesiastical Red = Madder with Alum and Cochineal over. Violets and Purples Logwood on Tin or Alum; or Tin and Alum. Indigo first, topped with Cochineal and Alum or Tin. Cochineal with Copper, or with Alum or Tin and Iron after. Madder with Alum and Iron after. Brazilwood with Alum and Iron after. […]

How To Use Natural Dyes

This tutorial explains how to dye any fibre material (yarn, fibre, thread, fabric, etc) with natural dyes. For more detailed information with lots of beautiful pictures, please check out our free ebook, Pretty Colors! Principles of Natural Dyeing Most natural dyes need both a plant extract and a mineral mordant to make a permanent colour. […]

How To Dye Black

by Cheryl Kolander. After recording the dry weight of your textile, wet it out in warm or hot water.STEP I: TANNIN  4 ounces tannic acid per pound of fiber (dry weight) Dissolve tannic acid in hot water. Heat the solution to approximately 200 F. Remove from heat. Enter the silk (or other textile) that has been thoroughly wet out […]

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