This is Lac, both extract and Sticklac. The top row is the extract and the bottom row is the Sticklac. Remember the picture in a previous post of the ugly stuff in the grinder? This is what it produces.
The picture to the right is a close up of the Sticklac. The three skeins on the far right have been modified with iron. Again, it is a challenge to get the colors I see onto the computer. Everything has a red base to it. The colors just glow. The light and medium DOS are pretty close so again, I would spread the dye percentages a bit further apart. Dyeing is a lot like cooking. When trying something new I pretty much follow the recipe, the next time I try it though, I start tinkering or improving. After straining the Sticklac, I saved all the residue and have steeped it again with more citric acid. I have some natural colored wool boucle yarn I am going to try the re-used Sticklac again to see if I can coax more color out. Just another side path.
Here on the left is a close up of Lac extract. The colors are more purple but definitely different than the Cochineal purples I was getting. The iron modifies the purple to dull bluer purples.Today I hope to get a double burner to add to my dye kitchen to get through the dyes a bit faster. I have a long way to go and it is already the middle of June!
More pictures of the next dyepot results tomorrow. -Renee
2 comments:
Wow, Renee, those skeins are beautiful! Do you have any plans for testing the various dyes for lightfastness? Heidi
Good question Heidi. One of the reasons why I like Earthues natural dye extracts is because they have already been tested for light and washfastness. Most of the Earthues dyes, with a very few exceptions, are lightfast. Two exceptions that I know of are the Quebracho dyes and Logwood Purple. They become more lightfast when overdyed or used with other lightfast dyes.
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