All  Eco  Printing  Projects  

 
Post   Technique  &  Example   Equipment  &  Materials   Method  
Number  
1.2   Dyeing  Test  Samples   • steamer 1. lay out two ceramic tiles facing upwards and two
    • cooking pot facing down
  • sprayer containing 50% water and 2. lay a piece of silk noil over each face up tile and
  50% white vinegar spray with vinegar water
  • lidded plastic sandwich box (or 3. choose your first variety of plant. Dip some (or
  substitute) all) in iron. Lay some face up and some face
    • ferrous sulphate down.
  • rubber gloves and apron 4. label and photograph if you wish
• elastic bands and strong jute string 5. spray your watercolour/khadi paper and place over
• 4 x ceramic tiles (or similar) your plants
• 18 pieces of (scoured and mordanted) 6. repeat this process for each plant variety
silk noil approx. 12cm x 12cm 7. place your face down tiles on top of the bundles
• 18 pieces of (mordanted) watercolour 8. squeeze tightly and secure with heavy duty elastic
or khadi paper (or similar) approx. bands or string to create a tight bond
12cm x 12cm 9. place one bundle in the steamer
• scissors 10. place the other in your dye pot with garden foliage
• 9 different plants (and any left over) plus hot water to cover
• some foliage for the dye pot 11. cook both for 2 hours then allow to dry by a
• table covering e.g. re-usable plastic boiler/radiator overnight (don't worry if it doesn't
sheet dry thoroughly)

   
 

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1.4   Bundling  Techniques   (equipment and materials for all post 1.4 1. lay silk hankie front side up and spray with
a.  ghost  roll   samples) vinegar water
2. dip your leaves and/or flowers in iron water and
• steamer lightly dab on kitchen roll
• dye pot (with local foliage and water) 3. place face down and up on your cloth
• plants you identified as useful during 4. roll silk tightly around copper pipe, pulling to
testing and others to experiment with keep taut as you roll
• 2 x ceramic tiles 5. tie with string
• heavy duty elastic bands and string 6. cook for 2 hours in the dye bath and allow to cool
• scissors and dry (if possible) before opening
• rubber gloves and apron 7. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing
• copper pipe board) but do not rinse*
 
• 2 x twigs (N.B. I mention using a
wooden dowel, you can use your  
second twig instead)
• plastic pipe
• 5 x silk hankies
• 2 x silk noil squares (approx. 24cm x
24cm)
• 1 x long silk oil strip (approx 12cm x
48cm)
• watercolour/khadi paper
• vinegar and water sprayer
• iron water bath
• kitchen roll

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  b.  clean  roll     1. lay silk hankie front side up and spray with
(as  above)   vinegar water
2. dip your leaves and/or flowers in iron water and
lightly dab on kitchen roll
3. place face down and up on your cloth
4. cover your fabric and foliage with vinegar sprayed
paper
5. roll it all tightly around plastic pipe, pulling to
keep taut as you roll
6. wrap paper around outside then tie with string
7. cook for 2 hours in the steamer and allow to cool
 
and dry (if possible) before opening
8. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing
board) but do not rinse*

  c.  mirror  roll     1. lay silk noil down and spray with vinegar water
(as  above)   2. dip your leaves and/or flowers in iron water and
lightly dab on kitchen roll
3. place face down and up on only one side of your
cloth
4. fold cloth in half to cover the foliage
  5. roll silk tightly around a smooth twig, pulling to
keep taut as you roll
6. tie with string
7. cook for 2 hours in the dye bath and allow to cool
 

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and dry (if possible) before opening
8. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing
board) but do not rinse*

  d.  sandwich  roll     1. lay silk noil down and spray with vinegar water
(as  above)   2. dip your leaves and/or flowers in iron water and
lightly dab on kitchen roll
3. place face down and up on your cloth
4. spray a silk hankie with vinegar water and lay face
down on the foliage
5. roll silk tightly around a smooth twig, pulling to
keep taut as you roll
6. tie with string
7. cook for 2 hours in the dye bath and allow to cool
and dry (if possible) before opening
 
8. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing
board) but do not rinse*

  e.  fold  and  clamp     1. lay the end of your silk noil strip on one of your
(as  above)   ceramic tiles and spray with vinegar water
2. dip your leaves and/or flowers in iron water and
lightly dab on kitchen roll
3. place face down and up on first section of your
cloth
  4. begin concertina (accordion) folding your fabric,
just applying foliage to one side
 

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5. place other ceramic tile smooth side down on your
bundle and bind with elastic bands or string
6. cook for 2 hours in the steamer and allow to cool
and dry (if possible) before opening
7. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing
board) but do not rinse*

  f.  bundle  and  bind     1. lay one silk hankie front side up and spray with
(as  above)   vinegar water
2. sprinkle flower petals etc. all over your fabric
3. spray the other hankie with vinegar water and
place on top of petals
4. roll silk tightly, pulling to keep taut as you roll
5. tie with string or elastic bands
6. cook for 2 hours in the steamer and allow to cool
and dry (if possible) before opening
7. iron (use paper towels to protect iron and ironing
board) but do not rinse*
 
2.2   iron  blankets   • steamer 1. choose whether you'd like to create a reusable iron
• plants you identified as useful during blanket from an old piece of fabric e.g. sheeting,
testing and others to experiment with cut up garment or use a piece of your sample
• scissors and string material
• rubber gloves and apron 2. soak your iron blanket in your solution of ferrous
• copper/pvc pipe or twig etc. sulphate and water (approx. half a teaspoon to a
• 3 x silk hankies litre of water)
 

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• 1 x piece of old fabric
• vinegar and water sprayer
• iron water bath
• kitchen roll
  lay on top of your foliage
  dye
 blankets
  • madder dye extract or dye 1. choose whether you'd like to create a reusable
• steamer
• plants you identified as useful during
testing and others to experiment with
• scissors and string
• rubber gloves and apron
• copper/pvc pipe or twig etc.
• 2 x silk hankies (or 1 with dye
blanket)
• 2 x 24cm x 24cm silk noil squares (or
1 with dye blanket)
• vinegar and water sprayer
• iron water bath
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3. spray your sample fabric with 50% white vinegar
and 50% water
4. lay your foliage on your fabric, some face up and
some face down (or as you wish!)
5. lightly wring out your iron blanket and carefully
6. roll tightly and tie with string
7. repeat process using 2 habotai silk hankies (one
dipped in iron)
8. steam for 2 hours and leave to cool/dry overnight
before unbundling and ironing
dye blanket from an old piece of fabric e.g.
sheeting, cut up garment or use a piece of your
sample material
2. soak your dye blanket in your solution of dye
extract and water (approx. 10% WOF or until you
feel it's a strong enough colour)
3. spray your habotai silk hanky with 50% white
vinegar and 50% water
4. choose whether to dip your foliage in iron or not
then lay it on your fabric, some face up and some
face down (or as you wish!)
5. lightly wring out your dye blanket and carefully
lay on top of your foliage

 
• kitchen roll 6. roll tightly and tie with string
7. repeat process using two 24cm x 24cm pieces of

  silk noil
8. steam both for 2 hours and leave to cool/dry
overnight before unbundling and ironing

2.4   discharging  plants:   • madder and logwood dye extract or • dissolve approximately half a teaspoon of
cochineal   dye cochineal extract into 3 litres of warm water (or
• steamer 10% WOF) and stir
• plants you identified as useful during • lower a silk handkerchief into the dye, stir and
testing and others to experiment with leave to soak on a low heat for 15-30 minutes
• scissors and string depending on how dark you'd like your dye
• rubber gloves and apron • gently wring out the fabric and place flat with the
• copper/pvc pipe or twig etc. right side up
• 2 x silk hankies (or 1 with dye • dip your foliage in iron (or not) and lay
blanket) alternatively face up and down on half of your
• 2 x 24cm x 24cm silk noil squares (or fabric
1 with dye blanket) • fold the remaining half over to sandwich your
 
  • vinegar and water sprayer leaves
  • iron water bath • straighten and roll whilst pulling tight
  • kitchen roll • tie with string and steam for 2 hours before
  allowing to cool and dry overnight
 
 
discharging  plants:  logwood   (materials as above)
• dissolve approximately half a teaspoon of
 

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logwood extract into 3 litres of warm water (or
10% WOF) and stir
• lower 2 silk handkerchiefs into the dye, stir and
leave to soak on a low heat for 15-30 minutes
depending on how dark you'd like your dye
• gently wring out the fabric and place flat with the
right side up
• dip your foliage in iron (or not) and lay face up on
your fabric
• lay your other handkerchief on top to sandwich
 
your leaves
• straighten and roll whilst pulling tight
• tie with string and steam for 2 hours before
allowing to cool and dry overnight

  multi-­‐coloured  eco  prints   • foliage pre-soaked in • pre-soak your leaves etc. for 48 hours in
madder/cochineal and logwood concentrated dye extracts (experiment with the
• steamer strength) or use up your exhaust baths
• scissors and string • lay out your silk noil and spray with vinegar water
• rubber gloves and apron • drain your leaves on kitchen roll
• copper/pvc pipe or twig etc. • place leaves on fabric
• 2 x silk hankies • roll up or place another piece of fabric or iron
• 2 x 24cm x 24cm silk noil squares blanket on top before rolling and tying with string
• vinegar and water sprayer • repeat process with habotai silk hankies
• iron water bath • steam for 2 hours, allow to cool and dry overnight  
• kitchen roll
 
 

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Now  it’s  time  to  play  at  combining  all  these  techniques.  There  are  too  many  possibilities  to  include  in  a  4  week  workshop  but  use  your  
remaining  fabric  to  experiment.  With  this  foundation  of  core  skills  you  can  let  your  imagination  to  run  wild!  For  example:-­‐  
 
• combine  the  discharged  print  technique  using  pre-­‐dyed  fabric  with  an  iron  blanket  on  top  
• try  a  pre-­‐dyed  fabric  in  another  colour  with  a  dye  blanket  in  another  colour  with  your  foliage  sandwiched  in  between  
• place  pre-­‐dyed  foliage  on  white  fabric  and  use  an  iron  blanket  on  top  
• pre-­‐dye  your  foliage  then  use  a  different  coloured  dye  blanket  e.g.  foliage  dyed  with  madder  and  logwood  dye  blanket  
 
*  rinsing  can  be  done  the  following  week  allowing  time  for  the  dye  to  sit  within  the  fibres  of  the  fabric.  Use  a  pH  neutral  (eco)  washing  up  
liquid  and  warm  water  to  hand  wash  gently.  Rinse,  then  condition  with  eco  fabric  conditioner.  Rinse  again,  dry  and  iron.  

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