Once you start dyeing, you can't stop. We visited a friend's house last week to learn their dyeing techniques and came away with some great colours.
These friends have a permanent rust pot that they pre-dip all of their fabrics and leaves in. I might have to do this, have a permanent container that I keep topping up. You can buy packets of rust from art shops.
Some of our materials included different gum leaves, Calytrix (turkey bush), rusty chain, wire and tea.
This top used onion skins and they created some great black/purple marks.
It made a gorgeous little girl's dress.
We steamed some of the bundles, for about an hour.
The pots just sat on top of cheap camping stoves - perfect for this kind of thing. One gas cylinder lasted us the hour needed to steam the bundles.
Other things were boiled, for about the same time. The water had some gum leaves put in it as well as some vinegar.
The results were strong!
This silk was pressed between tiles and tied very tightly. The gum leaf print came out nicely. Pressing between tiles helps to get a clear print.
You can see the links from the rusty bike chain that was wrapped around this shirt.
And the rope!
This little print on the left is from a trampoline spring. I have to go to the dump shop and get some things!
And to top it all off, we spent the time in a lovely garden.
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