I could have written an exhausting week and that would sum it up. Module 6 is Exhaust Bath dyeing. That basically means that I use all of those jars I have been saving for over 3 weeks and dye new cloth with them. Many people talk about how the dye goes mouldy and starts to stink. Well, they must live in a warmer climate!! At temperatures around 5C by jars were just fine on the ground under my table. No issues whatsoever.
I had 16 jars from the previous modules and freshly mordanted wool fabric and linen. I dyed the wool using what I had used initially with the linen, and vice versa. This made for 16 dye baths over the week, working outside in my not-yet-finished dye studio and getting gently reminded when I left the door open.
At first glance throughout the week I thought I was dyeing numerous shades of the same. But when they are all lined up, you do see the nuances. Very heavy on the pinks.
My favourites from this week are:
- that butter yellow from the weld bath (5th from L)
- an almost English old rose from the Eastern Brazilwood (6th from R) – it reminds me an old OPI nail polish colour (Japanese Rose Garden, alas no longer made)
- a burnt orange from the 50% madder bath (2nd from L).
Considering how dark the contents of the jar were I was quite surprised at the blandness of the madder-logwood bath (7th from R). Very ruddy looking. When you need a taupe….. And I didn’t expect much from the myrobalan as it was light to begin with (8th from L). Very soft yellow tones but doesn’t pack the punch like weld,
Some of the dye baths were quite concentrated, and can still give off colour. I saved 11 more jars of dye bath mainly from the cochineal, marigold, cutch, madder and weld exhausts. I plan on dyeing NZ wool hanks to either use or sell.
