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The top left skeins were mordanted with alum and cream of tartar for a more true red. The lighter skein was dyed with a 0.25% WOF and the darker skein was 1% WOF. Both pots fully discharged. I am thinking that the extra mordant had a lot to do with that.
The top right skeins were mordanted with alum only for a more fuschia color. They were dyed at 0.25% WOF. I am using an enamel pot and I suspect that there are some minute cracks allowing some iron to enter the water, thereby giving the purple cast instead of bright fuschia.
The bottom skeins were also mordanted with alum and dyed at 1% WOF. There is a lot of dye left over and not very much take up. After 1 hour of heating and several hours of cooling, I didn't think that the take up was good, so I re-heated the skeins for another hour and left over night to cool. There is still a lot of dye in the pot. I'm not sure why the color didn't all enter the fiber. I am going to reuse this dyepot with new skeins and see if I can get a darker color. The mordant I'm using is old, but I wouldn't think that alum would go bad...but I do believe I will try my nice new alum and see if that makes a difference.
More experiments to come!
Gorgeous. I so love the "wonder what I'll get?" aspect of wool dying. This is a link to my blog post from when I first learned how to dye at a Traditional skills camp. You'll have to scroll past my nattering about my family. :O) :
ReplyDeletehttp://sixgables.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/report-from-camp-part-three/
(Oh, and btw, I'm Deana, friend of Annie, I know you through FB).
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and posts.....I was just thinking about dyeing some fleece....of course I have to pick and wash it first...but the colors are so wonderful. Thanks for your comments!!
ReplyDeleteI really like the purple cast to the fuscia - and I'd really, really, like a sweater in these colors. So, if you're thinking of discarding that enamel pot, feel free to send it my way. ;)
ReplyDelete