How to Eco Print on Fabric - Step by Step
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Here are no nonsense, instructions that will help you achieve beautiful and colourful leaf, bark and onion skin prints on fabric, even if you have no previous experience whatsoever! These botanical prints from the 'dirty pot' will be totally washable and colourfast, if you follow the step by step process that I share.
My aim is to cultivate a sustainable, nature focused practice helping creatives and slow living enthusiasts feel connected, understood and supported. Since 2029 I've had multiple wet felting and eco printing workshop success stories in Ireland, North America, Australia and mainland Europe.
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I started dipping my cotton fabric in rust water like you recommended! It’s amazing! I’m getting some fabulous prints. Also I watched a different video today and you said there that leaves are different depending where they grow, I suspected that for long time. Chinese maple from Czech Republic is perfect here in Ireland not so much. Love your videos.
Great to hear Magdalena!
😊
If I'm leaving my bundles to unwrap the next day, I'll wrap them in a big towel.
Thanks for the tip Tammy, I bet your towels are a delightful colour!
Nicola, your Amazon link below gives an error that the page couldn’t be found.
Thanks for the heads up Rhonda! The link should be updated now
Hi , thank you so much for this tutorial. I am a natural dyer, and don’t really want to sacrifice one of my large old aluminum canning pots to be a iron/ slash dirty pot, if it remains a dirty pot forever, which I think it would have to be, once a dirty pot, is it forever a dirty pot? Thanks😊
Very informative! What do you use if you do not have eucalyptus leaves? They do not grow here. Are the ones you buy at a craft store any good?
I'm from Indonesia. I love your videos. Thanks so much for sharing your works.
I'm glad you enjoy them! Thank you for the lovely comment
Thanks. Here from the San Francisco Bay Area. Visited a junk yard today and picked up numerous pieces for the dirty pot. Still looking for an aluminium pot! Closest I come in an enamel baker pot!
Thank you very much for your sharing Nicola! The hand bag looks stunning! And I love the way how you try to save energy, be mindful and living in a sustainable way. Wish you a very good day and good life!
You are very welcome! Wishing you all the best back :)
THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN. I saw many videos but non was generous to give such detailed info. I really appreciate every second you offered.
I was wondering about eco printing a white fabric, wouldn't the water solution effect the whiteness of the fabric in "Diety Pot" or even in mordant water?
I normally put rusty pieces in water even if I use alum mordant, theses iron things have been years in my homemade rusty water, for this reason I steam, your advice please.
Thank you in advance for your help and time.
Best wishes.
It really depends on the fabric, how tightly you tie your bundles and the composition of your 'dirty pot' liquid Maha. I have many pieces that have a pale background, even white after they have been boiled in the dirty pot liquid. It's impossible to explain everything clearly here as a comment but honestly, cellulose fabric looks very dark brown usually when I dip it in home made rust water but after printing this brown washes out. The reason for this is that linen, cotton and other cellulose fabrics don't absorb the natural dye well without traditional powdered mordants. By using this knowledge and making sure to use only leaves that DO give good prints without mordants pale backgrounds may be achieved with good strong prints. If you've not already signed up for my newsletter I recommend you do, that way you won't miss new videos and information about upcoming bootcamps or other events! Here's the link for you. members.nicolabrown.ie/newsletter
Thank you for so generously sharing your methods!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤
Which quantity of calcium carbonate to neutralize the rust
Hello from New Zealand and just a new learner thankyou❤
You’re welcome 😊 Hi to NZ from rural Ireland!
Please ,the amount to be added . Ingredient ....
The print not showing properly when i do onfabrics
So well done! This was easy to follow in a linear manner. I just dropped in my first bundle. That's something I will need to practice a bit. 🤭 I may have cheated a bit. I had iron water that I started in a glass jar months ago and it was very black so I dumped that in too. 😅 I added red onion skins. 🤞🏼🤞🏼 I am very excited though. I find that my creative practice is a healthy practice in failure. Sometimes I fail up and I'm delighted. Sometimes I fail-fail and I learn. I have enjoyed every step of my natural dye journey... even all the dull yellows 🤥 If everything goes well... I'm hoping for very 90s grunge tones! We shall see!
I’ve been doing the same thing. It’s interesting isn’t it to unwrap your bundles and see what’s happening. I’ve even collected sour sob petals. I think they are called Oxalis? They give an almost neon yellow! Very nice.
@@inkedoutmiss really? Neon yellow could be fun!
I really want to get my hands on eucalyptus and start a second dirty pot lol. 😄
My peony leaves came out black... maybe a blue-black. Super happy with the results. It looks like camouflage but also kind of like outer space. I used wool felt. Looking forward to the results on wovens
I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it easy to follow. It has taken me a lot of trial and error too!
Thank you. This video was very informative. I am interested in dyeing cellulose fabrics into flat colors from tree leaves and bark,
But still integrating the mordant processes, and I feel quite insecure about copper liqueur.
And powders generally.
It is nice to learn from you
Thanks for the comment Sophie. We have a great community over on Facebook where many artists share their creations and processes if you'd like to learn more about printing without mordants. We'd love to have you there - facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
??? Sustainable. Exactly what I strive for. My name is Lisa Shosh and I live in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, USA. I'm looking for something new to create for Christmas gifts this year but also art to supplement my income. I'm 54 and care for my adult daughter with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For me, art is very therapeutic. Thank you for sharing your gifts and insightful tips. How long do the fabrics hold the dye and which is the most economical but durable fabric to use???
Hey Lisa, apologies for my slow reply but I've been in Australia facilitating a workshop!
Providing that you use vegetation that gives substantive prints, boil your pot for long enough and wash your pieces afterwards using olive oil soap (or any similar gentle soap) your prints will last for years and years. Honestly, preparing your fabric correctly and following the process step by step is the morst important thing when working without traditional powdered mordants in a sustainable way and starting with wool or silk will give you the best results. I totally hear you being on a budget so thrift stores are my favourite place for snagging a bargain! Think old wool sweaters and blankets plus silk shirts and tank tops. Usually anything that says it's to be dry cleaned only is a goo bet to try!!! With a rust water dip linen, cotton, ramie and all man made cellulose based fabrics such as viscose or rayon also can be printed. They will have dark prints, not colourful like wool or silk but are great to work with too. As a beginner, I recommend that you try onion skins, eucalyptus and blackberry leaves for success from the start.
Here's a link to a free PDF that I have about eco printing using eucalyptus and at the end there are basic eco printing instructions! www.dirtypotecoprinting.com/red-giving-eucalyptus
???? Hi Nicola. I’m loving these videos. Can you tell me if you save the dirty pot.?? Ive just made two lots of paper dyeing and wondering if I should just throw it all away - which seems a shame??? Jo From Perth Australia
Hi Jo, you can reuse your dirty pot over and over so definitely don't throw it out. Happy printing!
???Hi..Judy from Toronto...can I use Red Maple leaves and how long would I boil???
Maple leaves give excellent prints for most people in your part of the world but they give me NONE here when grown locally in Ireland! My friend near Dublin though gets lovely results from here Japanese maple. Try 2.5 hours and see how you get on, no longer
Thank you. I haven't started yet, looking for good and detailed instructions and Your skills and knowledge are amazing.
I am so glad you find my videos helpful, thanks for the lovely compliments!
Just watched the replay. Fantastic as always. Thank you Nicola. PS I'm in West Oz
I'm glad you enjoyed it Linda. Greetings from Clasheen!
I loved it !!! Thank you so much!! Hello from France, Basque Country!
Glad you enjoyed it! Greetings from Clasheen.
Fantastic Video, beautiful work!!! Thank youso much!
I'm glad you enjoyed!!
Hi from Colorado, USA 👋
Thak you Nicola. It, s wonderfull. I can, t wait to start my adventure with ecoprinting
Have fun Katia!
Nicola, thank you so much! You are very kind! I am a novice, overwhelmed by it, all so wonderfully and clearly explained. I am definitely going for it!
Yay!! Go for it!!
I Don't understand if there is one pot with the liquid staff inside another, or it's just one. Another question... You put the rolls into the liquid or steam it? Thank you!
Hi Georgia, thanks so much for your questions. We have made a note of them and will answer during the free upcoming bootcamp. Here is the link if you'd like to register - members.nicolabrown.ie/bootcamp
Do you remove the metal once the dirty pot has been set up before the fabric is added or is the metal always left in while dyeing?
It depends on how dark I want my background colour and the prints to be. The longer the metal is in the pot the stronger the colours, I love this but some people prefer paler results. Only by experimenting for yourself will you find out which you like best. Have fun!
You can easily make your own vinegar. This may be something you might want to look into.
Yes, I have been making vinegar with my own apple peelings and cores since discovering how two years ago. Thanks for the suggestion though, other people may want to do this too!
For new eco printers though, it will be much quicker to just buy some so that they can get up and running.
Thank u Nicola for all the sharing. I am from South Africa and love to follow u.
Thank you for the lovely compliment Annatjie!
What i should to do for good bright colors instead of black or brown.. Is it important to dip leafs in iron water or any mordant solution before laying flat
For any strong bright colours you may need to use traditional powdered mordants combines with natural dyes. That's not what my speciality is, I work primarily without mordants so don't achieve the same colour palate. It's not necessary to dip the leaves in a mordant but only certain vegetation prints without one.
Great video. Thank you so much. How badly does the dirty pot smell if I used it on my kitchen stove? Any potentially hazardous fumes?
Bravo!!! J'adore votre manière de travailler, respectueuse de notre planète Merci!
Thank you so much Marie!
Celie from Renton Washington USA 🇺🇸
Hi to Renton from Ireland!
Hi I am from Sri Lanka Thanks for d knowledge
Greetings from Clasheen, you are so welcome!
So helpful ......excellent ..from Australia
Great to hear and thank you for the lovely compliment!
??? Hi, it is Cathy from South African ???
Greetings from Clasheen Cathy!
When are you doing another workshop in Australia ....I live near Lake Macquarie !!!
I watched this on YT this morning, I don't use FB. I found this presentation very helpful, and less disjointed than the Bootcamp videos. I do not mean to be rude, I think the Bootcamp videos became a little disjointed because of all the interruptions with questions and comments. This presentation was wonderful, all of the information was very clearly given in a logical manner, and comments/questions kept until the end. Thank you.
??? Hi Nicola. Great to see the furniture upholstered with your prints. I want to upholster with my printed fabrics. Can you tell me what base fabric you use? I'm guessing wool, but if you can be specific that would be great, many wools will be too thick??? Thanks
what if im not planning on dyeing any silk or wool but cotton and linen?
Hopefully you will find this video helpful if you want to print on cellulose fabrics. ua-cam.com/users/livele08TNIpQlU
We are late on the game here, and from Terceira Azores. ???what type of tub do you use to store the liquid when you have a thin walled aluminum pot? ???What material would you want that tub to be to store it?
Thank you so much.
Sorry for my slow reply, I'm just catching up!
I recommend something non-reactive such as a large rubber or plastic trash can to store your pot liquid in.
@@clasheen good morning! I just got home from the Azores last night where my sister-in-law and I tried a couple of times to echo print. We are just at the very beginning, learning stages and improving each time a little bit. Before I return, I will be looking for some wool fabric and silk fabric to bring back with me as it's pretty difficult to find on the island. Thank you so much for your videos, your instruction and your response.
Hi! Loved this video 😍 how many times or for how long can I reuse the dirty pot? When do I know it’s time to make a new one? Thank you so much!
Hi Nicola! I am from the Philippines
Greetings from Ireland!
Hi from New Zealand Lesley
Greetings from Clasheen Lesley!
Hii
North Las vegas Nevada
Greetings from Clasheen!
From Vancouver Island, Canada……wonderful Nicola! I’m going to try my first piece tomorrow with wild rose leaves I collected today! Cheers! And many, many thanks 🇨🇦
Yay I am so excited for you!! Please feel free to join my public group if you are not a member already and show us how you get on - facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
I’m 🆕 to this amazing technique. I live in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA (my daughter has been to Ireland a couple times as a Crew member of a Hot Air Balloon company. I am planning at trip to Ireland with her this summer!)
Thank you for sharing your knowledge on UA-cam! I look forward to learning this art!
Cris Y-D
Hello back to you from Ireland. How interesting that your daughter has been here several times, with a hot air balloon company! Such a beautiful way of seeing out countryside.
Have fun starting your eco printing journey Chris and if you'd like up to date news about upcoming free learning and paid training opportunities (like this bootcamp) please consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter. Here's the link for you.members.nicolabrown.ie/newsletter
YOu can also subscribe to this channel on UA-cam although there is more in the newsletters!
A year later, I've just discovered this! (I'm in Melbourne, Australia.) Thank you for your generous information, Nicola, certainly gives me the confidence to try it myself with stuff in my garden. I'm a wannabe weaver, struggling to find the time and space to get back to it, but I've long wanted to combine that with my love of gardening and plants, by dyeing with different methods. I've now subscribed to your channel.
Woo Hoo Anita, thanks for subscribing to my channel! I was out your way recently, teaching in Geelong. You live in a beautiful part of the world with access to loads of wonderful eco printing vegetation. Have fun!
Hello Nicola,
Love this, Learning a lot❤
About vinegar maybe an idea to use kombucha's scoby. It makes perfect vinegar😅
I think that would work perfectly! Thanks for the suggestion.
Hello from Portugal. I work mostly with cotton and Linnen. I experimented a lot of difereent aprouches. Most of what i had investigated, most of what i had found is to add a source of protein to the fabric. Expecially soy milk. Do you have any suggestion to get good results in the dirty pot for cotton and Linnen? Blessings
Hi Joao! Thanks so much for your questions. We have made a note of them and will answer during the free upcoming bootcamp. Here is the link if you'd like to register - members.nicolabrown.ie/bootcamp
Is it faded after wash???
No, this method gives you colour fast prints that stand the test of time!
Thank you so much for sharing your talents! I’m so inspired to try dirty pot dyeing, and you’re such and excellent teacher as well as a talented artist. I can’t wait to get started and will be using an old aluminum pot that was my grandmother’s, no longer considered safe for cooking. Thrilled to put this large pot to use making some beautiful prints! I’m in Princeton, Kentucky, USA.
You are so welcome! And thank you for the lovely compliments. What a great reuse for the pot - please do keep us updated with your results!! You can post them in my public FB group if you would like - facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
??? Hi Nicola. Regards ironing, do you iron when cloth is still wet? Or dry it first? How long can it be left before ironing (wet or dry)? I live off grid & can't easily power an iron at home. Thanks. Jo ???
I see this wasn’t answered…there is no need to iron any fabric unless you want to if it’s all crinkly. I iron silk from damp and wool a bit damp if many lines in it. But contrary to belief ironing does not help set colour or dye. The steaming or boiling really has already done that at high heat. Hope this helps ❤️
Anneke from Holland
Greetings from Clasheen!
Nicola,!! Thank you very much for all the information you give us with such humility! You are great. I am Jhoanna from Argentina, Patagonia, Chubut, Pto Madryn. I was very pleased. I recently discovered you on Instagram and I thought all your work was marvelous and the variety you achieve with so few materials, that you go crazy with some artists. being able to have them and impossible to get them. You're an idol I loved it and well I'm seeing you from time to time, I'm attached to your channel and now I can get to be in the groups you say, Ah, I forgot to say not long ago that I'm interested in dyes ,, Nuno only felt, the fact was to change and give other more natural nuances,, thank you... an immense love 😘😘😘😘🙏🙏🙏🙏💛💛💛💛💙💙💙🧡🧡
Dear Jhoanna, thank you so much for your lovely comment and feedback! It’s wonderful to meet and make like minded friends online. We may live on the other side of the world but how nice that we enjoy the same things!!! Argentina must be very beautiful.
Delightful. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better and hot to print without powdered mordants.
Likewise Lisa!
Helo mam i am a fashion student now i am doing final year internship in auroville. So the firm is totally plant based fashion, one is eco printing. I am happy to watch the video of yours it will help me to create new things thank you ❤
How exciting for you!! Best of luck in final year and I have plenty of videos to watch and learn from :)
Hey Nicola, so lovely to find you here ... referred by a great group here 'Slow Stitching by the Sea' here in Tasmania. Opposite end of the world. We love Ireland and listening to you. Eco dyeing is fabulous and I so much appreciate the opportunity to be a viewer and learn more about natural mordanting. Happy days. Wendy from Riverhouse Studio, Tasmania
Hi Wendy, greetings from rural Ireland! I’m delighted that you were referred here by your group, what a wonderful name, ‘Slow Stitching by the Sea’! Eco printing and slow stitch are a marriage made in heaven so have fun and enjoy the journey.
From Australia:
A wonderful, clear presentation, Nicola 😊
Glad it was helpful. Thank you!
Greetings from Peru.. Thanks for this work!! Very beautiful!!
Hi Nanay, greetings back to you from rural Ireland!
Thank you!!
You're very welcome Marga!
Thank you, Nicola, that was so thorough and informative. Thank you for your generous time!
You are so welcome!
Thankyou ❤😊
You're welcome 😊
???Should I be using a grate to keep my bundle on iron pipes from sinking to the bottom of the pot???
No LaVel, the whole concept is that the bundles are submerged IN the pot liquid so no need for a grate.
❤ Beautiful 🎵. Thanks for all the details on this!❤ I will try this!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for your generosity and sharing your process! 🙏
You are very welcome!
tuning in from New Zealand. Love this!
Greetings from Clasheen!
I make my own apple cider vinegar, it’s very easy but it does take a few weeks to do.
Such great advice. I started a 20 litre tub yesterday!!!
Hi l'm from Turkey.Thanks so much ❤
You're welcome 😊
Muchas gracias por compartir conocimientos . Saludos desde Uruguay
You're very welcome!
So informative! Thank you so much!!
You are so welcome!
Thank you very much! I m watching from Finland.
??? Doesn't the rust damage the fabric???
Hi Ulrika, greetings from rural Ireland! No, in my experience the rust doesn't damage the fabric. In fact the strength of it is less I think that using powdered FE as a mordant. You do need to neutralise your fabric with a bicarbonate of soda solution if your fabric has been in direct contact with a rusty metal or iron pipe but there is no need to do this is you use a copper pipe or wooden dowel.
@@clasheen thank you so much! I'll trust your experience and try it. First some exercises with paper. .. I'm so excited! 🤩⚘🌿
thank you nicola - i am very new at eco printing, so excited what an exciting journey
You’re welcome Caroline, it is indeed a very exciting process. Have fun!
Thank you so much.❤️
❤Australia
??? You said that you iron all your fabrics, including wool/silk etc on the hottest setting right at the end. How does that NOT ruin the delicate silk for instance???
Thanks for the wonderful presentation Nicola! You are so inspiring!
You'll just have to trust me on this Cinzia, it's never yet ruined any of my silk or that of workshop participants! The important thing is to move the iron all the time, don't leave it in the one place. I also use steam. If you are anxious though you could iron through a linen tea towel for added protection.
@@clasheen thanks so much.... You're right in thinking I'm dead scared .... Trust your experience yes! ,😊😊
I work primarily with paper. How does the dirty pot method work for watercolor paper? I realize that is cotton, and not wool or silk. Perhaps the dirty pot method is not best for paper? Thank you Nicola!
Hi Kate, I've often used watercolour paper and it works perfectly. Cheaper paper often actually takes a better print than more expensive although Fabriano is beautiful
@@clasheen Thanks, I appreciate hearing back from you about it!
Thank you for an informative video.
My pleasure!
❤❤❤
❤
Hola Nicola . Si hago muchos rollos los puedo guardar para cocinarlos en la olla sucia otro día ? Como los guardo ?
Gracias .
¡Puede envolverlos en papel encerado o pergamino o en una bolsa de plástico vieja y guardarlos en su refrigerador hasta por un día! Aunque no los dejaría por más tiempo.
Thank you so much ❤
You're welcome 😊
???can I use hibiscus flower???
Without traditional powdered mordants I don't find that flowers give any good or lasting prints. If they print at all they tend to turn brown almost immediately so the only way to know about hibiscus flowers is to try. Leaves and onion skins are much better to use with the 'dirty pot' process.
@@clasheen I used alum but the results were miserable. Could I share a few pics with you
@@clasheen also, we don’t get olive oil soap in India. Can I use coconut oil soap or a local nut called soap nut which is used to wash hair? It’s very safe and eco friendly
I can get a beautiful purple from a red hibiscus flower on wool.. no mordant only the iron in the pot. Just experiment and use a piece of thick cotton fabric as a barrier over the plant vegetation to stop bleed through.
Nicola do you use ever use a tannin blanket after dipping your target in iron pot water to get very black backgrounds? I love the mix of tannin and iron to get lovely Greys.