Experiment with Botanical Printing

Summer with the colors of so many flowers, prompts to experiment with art with the help of nature. I had some old clothes that I decided to use for my first experiment with botanical print and dye. I chose the palette from the dried flower of butterfly tea and red hibiscus, and fresh flowers of coreopsis.

Here is the step-by-step process

Pre-Washing: Start by thoroughly washing the fabric or yarn you plan to dye. This removes any residual chemicals, dirt, or natural oils that might interfere with the dye absorption. I used baking soda, but natural detergent or soap could be also used to avoid introducing unwanted chemicals to the process.

Mordanting: The mordant I used is alum (potassium aluminum). Other mordants which can be used (depending on the fabric) are aluminum acetate, iron, and tannin.

Dissolve the mordant in hot water. The concentration of the mordant solution depends on the type of mordant and the material being dyed. Immerse the pre-washed material in the mordant bath, making sure it is fully submerged. Allow the material to soak in the mordant solution for an appropriate amount of time, usually several hours to overnight.

Preparing Plant Material: Arrange the plant material on the fabric or paper in a way that you want the print to appear. You can create patterns, designs, or randomly place the botanical elements.

Stacking and Binding: Layer another piece of fabric or paper over the arranged plant material to create a "sandwich." Bind the layers tightly together using string, rubber bands, or other binding materials. This helps ensure good contact between the plant material and the fabric or paper.

Steaming: Place the bound stack into a steamer or a steaming basket. Steam the bundle for an appropriate amount of time, usually 1-2 hours. The heat from the steam helps set the colors onto the material.

Cooling and Unbinding: Gently remove the plant material to reveal the botanical prints on the fabric or paper.

Rinsing and Washing: Rinse the printed material in cool water to remove any excess plant material.

Аnd voila - what a wonderful new look for the old clothes made with pigments from nature.