Lac infused leaves

Seven experiments:

  1. Target: nothing, Blanket: Iron

  2. Target: nothing, Blanket: dye

  3. Target: dye, Blanket: tannin

  4. Target: dye, Blanket: tannin

  5. Target: Iron, Blanket: Iron

  6. Target: Iron, Blanket: dye

  7. Target: Iron, Blanket: tannin

All silk is mordanted with alum. Iron means iron mordant. Dye is Himalayan Rhubarb (yellow). Tannin is pomegranate skins. Leaves are left in lac dye for two days.

Tannin, iron and dye:

Washed and dried

Conclusion:

Lac infused leaves showed only subtlety. Better in some oak leaves, alder, catalpa, red bud. Leaves were dry and stayed in lac for 2 days. Cold dye bath. Maybe try: hot bath instead. Iron mordanted silk did not make much difference. Maybe need more iron (this time was half teaspoon). Same about iron blankets. Rhubarb and rhubarb+pomegranate gives yellow and gold beautiful tones in the background (carried by blankets).

Rhubarb Scarf

Target: Iron mordant (1/2 small spoon)

Blanket: 1 tbs Hymalayan Rhubarb

Rhubarb+Pomegranate scarf

Target: more iron (1.5 small spoon)

Blanket: 1 tbs Hymalayan Rhubarb + pomegranate tannin

Leaves one more day in Lac

Hellen Colman