bernie-woman
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Natural dyes demoI have just found out that I have been volunteered to do some kind of child friendly demonstration at a community event in September - they want me to show the kids how natural dyes work 
I have just read Sallys excellent article on the matter but wondered if members that do natural dyeing or those that don't have got any ideas on what I should do  - it will effectively be one of many craft demos on the day so they won't be siting down just visiting the stall - maybe having a go then going onto other things
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sally_in_wales
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Do you do any woad or indigo dying? That one is real magic to watch as you dunk in a skein of white wool, pull it out yellow and watch it turn blue before your eyes? Otherwise I would suggest go for the 'kitchen chemistry' approach and use dyes based on vegetables, so you can talk about the wide uses of onions, nettles etc.
What sort of heat source will you have available?
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sean
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There was a woman doing indigo dying at one of Ben's school fairs. She had loads of squares of old sheets and got the kids to tie-dye them then they could collect them at the end of the day. Twas very popular. (And meant that there were loads of mini Axl Roses wandering around for a while.  )
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sally_in_wales
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What a good idea! You have to pick your chemicals carefully if doing woad or indigo with kids, but the plus side is the vat needs no heat once you have set it up, the squares sound a great idea.
How about a 'match the plant to the dye' game as well? Pre dyed samples, plants in jamjars and they have to guess which one goes with which?
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bernie-woman
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I had thought about the squares thing (got some old sheets which I could use) - and the woad dyes sound a great idea - what chemicals would I need/have to use Sally and would I need a heat source for all dyeing (currently feeling way out of my depth with this one - my experience of dyeing extends to naturally dyeing eggs at easter with some kids using onion skins ) - love the samples idea as well as I would like to be a little educational in some way
I am thinking a visit to the library might be a good idea
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sally_in_wales
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bear with me and I'll try to look out a sensible and safe indigo vat method for you. There are some that are very minimal chemical but the finished squares wouldnt be washable- that may not be an issue if its just a 'have a go' session though.
If you also did a small display and a mini competition to match the plant to the dyed sample, and maybe gave out a simple sheet on safe dyes to try at home (I can help you develop that if you like), then you would have plenty.
I can let you have a photocopiable 'how to spin' sheet too if thats any help. Kids often like having activity sheets to take away to try later.
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bernie-woman
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| sally_in_wales wrote: | bear with me and I'll try to look out a sensible and safe indigo vat method for you. There are some that are very minimal chemical but the finished squares wouldnt be washable- that may not be an issue if its just a 'have a go' session though.
If you also did a small display and a mini competition to match the plant to the dyed sample, and maybe gave out a simple sheet on safe dyes to try at home (I can help you develop that if you like), then you would have plenty.
I can let you have a photocopiable 'how to spin' sheet too if thats any help. Kids often like having activity sheets to take away to try later. |
Yes and yes and yes please - I am off to the library on Tuesday to see what I can find out myself and would love you to have a quick look over any plans I have - but am definitely going to to do the matching plants to dyed sample competition and safe dyes for them to tray at home is a great idea - thanks Sally
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sally_in_wales
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Onion skins are a perfect one to suggest for kids, you can get away without a mordant as long as they understand it won't be super washfast, you can also do onion dying in a jamjar on eth windowsill so no heat required. Basically you put a couple of onions kins (papery bits only) a cotton hankie and water in a jamjar and stand it on the windowsill for a few days, they should notice the colour getting darker. Suggest they don't leave it more than a week or it will go mouldy! Rinse the hankie, dry it off and its dyed
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wellington womble
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Bernie, I have a little book on planting a dye garden (or it might be dying from garden plants) would you like to borrow it? It's easily postable. And I know where it is already!
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bernie-woman
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| wellington womble wrote: | | Bernie, I have a little book on planting a dye garden (or it might be dying from garden plants) would you like to borrow it? It's easily postable. And I know where it is already! |
Yes please - I have sent you a PM
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