Experiments in Dyeing – Part 2

This was supposed to be a series of bi-weekly dye experiments, working with different techniques and materials to see what happens. Well, it has been more than two weeks since my first post. Maybe this should be a monthly blog? 

In any case, today I’m writing about my fourth dye experiment. Experiment numbers two and three were with oak bark. The results were underwhelming, and not really worth writing about. Simply, I think my wool wasn’t mordantly correctly for the oak dye. Once I restock my Cream of Tartar and get some more wool mordanted, I will repeat those experiments. Today’s experiment is about water. Does my crappy well water affect my dye?

Background

Like a lot of Americans in rural and sub-urban (ex-urban?) areas, we rely on a well for water. Our well is a reliable source of fresh water, but it comes with a catch. The water is very hard. I don’t mean a little extra calcium or other minerals hard. I mean the bathtub is permanently rust stained hard. Despite having a water softener and other treatments there is a fair amount of iron getting into our water supply.

Due to this, I’ve been collecting rain water to use in my dye pots. I was worried that the iron in the well water would darken or dull the colors I am trying to dye. I have also used distilled water, but the frugal side of me hates paying for water. Collecting rainwater is a pain, in that I need to filter out the organic material that seems to collect with the rain and make sure that I cover the buckets before the mosquitos lay eggs. I thought I should run an experiment and see how much of a difference the water makes.

Experiment

For this test, I decided to use the marrying technique I wrote about in part one. I gathered up some wool, some water and a couple of pots. Ok, more accurately, one pot and one crock pot. My son gave me a hand and helped me to cut the wool into fat 1/8 yard (9” x 22”) pieces.

We ended up with two dark pieces and two light ones. We then tied off portions of the light-colored wool to make patterns. My little guy picked the elastic placement for the wool in the foreground below (the piece with the red, blue and white elastic) and I did the one in the background (green elastic).

I then heated up two batches of water and laundry soap, one with well water and the other with rain water. Once that was simmering, in went the wool. After simmering for 20 to 30 minutes, I added a half cup of white vinegar and simmered another 30 minutes or so. This second simmer is supposed to be until the water is clear.  For the first time ever, I got the water to clear! (Seriously, this never happens for me)

Took the wool out, rinsed and hung to dry.

Results

Comparing the pictures of the two batches side by side, if there is a difference, it is that the rain water gave me a darker result for the dark wool. The rain water bath seems to have dulled the whites and yellows in the dark wool more than the well water. However, the well water piece is more mottled, due to less stirring, so that may be an optical illusion.

Rain Water	Well Water

In the end, I don’t think it really mattered which type of water I used for this technique. The next step will be to see if it affects the color when using a commercial dye. I also think I need to press the wool before taking pictures!

Thank you for reading!

~Kerrie