Risks were taken and mistakes were made.
1) I added too much fiber to the formula 2) Then I added too much red wine 3) Then I really stepped it up and let it get way too hot for way too long because I left the kitchen and forgot about it while it nearly boiled dry. No, I was not drinking at the time -- and yes, the fumes in the house could've had something to do with it.
I most likely went over in fiber weight because I used a silk shantung instead of a lighter silk, plus my wool was a home-felted piece -- you know how thick felted wool can be. Because of that overage in weight, I thought what the heck and doubled the wine but not the water or the mordant. The overheating didn't seem to do any damage.
Part of the fun of dyeing is that it is experiential and a little story forms around each project.
Has anyone tried red wine dyeing yet?
Wow! Rich and Royal.....guess sometimes getting it abit wrong is the right way!
ReplyDeleteDownside is that the wine wont be drinkable after the dye bath..no?
lolol
think it turned out to be a beautiful color.
ReplyDeleteLyn, you're right on that! Ha.
ReplyDeleteYes, you can't drink it with the mordant in it, darn! I just let the little that was left (that didn't get boiled out) down the drain -- alum was the mordant.
Deanna, it's maybe a little darker than in the book but that's ok with me!
ReplyDeleteI think it turned out beautifully too. What did you used for the mordant? I think cheaper wine might work well too because they might have color added to it ha!
ReplyDeleteNat, hey, I never thought of that -- yay for food coloring! This author called for 3 soakings -- 1 in water and 2 in the wine/water and the last one you add the alum.
ReplyDeletegreat color..............
ReplyDeleteXXXm
The color is beautiful! I would have been tempted to drink the wine though..lol! :)
ReplyDeleteWill have to try this one some time.
Thank you <3
Really a beautiful color. Do you find working with silk hard? It seems to always want to get away and not stay where I want it...especially when I am cutting it.
ReplyDeleteI have a silk tie crazy quilt that I want to do, but this issue has me fearful.
Thanks, Martine -- it's bold, that's for sure! xo
ReplyDeleteMarie, thank you -- it was quite the experience to dump it into the dye-pot!
ReplyDeleteBecky, thanks. Honestly, I've never done an entire piece of anything with silk -- what gets me is how it frays like crazy. The shantung is much heavier so I have a feeling it'll be easier to sew. A silk crazy quilt will be gorgeous though -- I hope you go for it!
ReplyDeletefor COSMIC ARCATA---if you back your silk with a lightweight fusible interfacing, it is easy to handle and stitch.
ReplyDeleteDeanna, thank you! I wish I would've thought or known of that before. The silk wouldn't unravel then either, I bet. Yay!
ReplyDeleteHaven't tried it yet.... Maybe this weekend 'cause now I'm really curious! I have a three day weekend and as usual I'm making more plans than I'll be able to keep up with!
ReplyDeleteDeb, will be watching for when you have time to try it. And for what you'll all be up to this weekend!?
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