Cotton + blankets
Cotton mordanted with Gallnut Tannin plus Alum Acetate and Calcium Carbonate (T+AA+CC).
Four pieces.
In this experiment I used iron mordant instead of iron dip. Here is the difference:
Iron mordant
Measure iron at 2% WOF. Dissolve in hot water.
Add to mordanting pot. Fill the pot with enough water to fully cover the fibre when added.
Add wet, mordanted fibre.
Heat to 55ºC (130ºF) hold for 30 minutes.
Rinse well.
Iron dip
Measure iron at 2% WOF. Dissolve in hot water.
Add wet, mordanted fibre.
Leave it 30 seconds. No rinse.
Experiment 1
Target: T+AA+CC+ orange osage dye
Blanket: NO
Botanicals: dry and fresh petals
No plastic barrier
Experiment 3
Target: T+AA+CC+ I mordant
Blanket: chestnut tannin
Botanicals: hydrated dry leaves
When mordanting cotton with Iron, became gray because it was the mordanting process for cotton contain tannin. In silk, can be mordanted with iron and still keep the natural color (since there is no tannin involved in mordanting silk).
The blanket introduces yet more tannin, so the grey is stronger.
Experiment 2
Target: T+AA+CC+ I mordant
Blanket: orange osage dye
Botanicals: hydrated dry leaves
The blanket got more interesting effects here. Experiment to try: dye in target, iron in blanket.
Experiment 4
Target: T+AA+CC
Blanket: orange osage dye
Botanicals: hydrated dry leaves
