After the beans have soaked for 48 hours I carefully ladled the water off, careful not to stir up the pot too much. The proteins and debris that sink to the bottom are supposed to muddy the dye.
Then once I had dye and no beans in the stainless kettle I added the silk shirt, wet and direct from the mordant where it had soaked for a day and one half. I weighted the shirt down under the dye with a plate.
This is what the shirt looked like as it went into the dye bath. It's turned sort of gray with a few blushes or rose.
And this is what it looked like last night after 48 hours in the dye bath. Very purpley. Pretty. I tossed all my white socks in there afterward. I like that color.
So here it is hanging wet in the bathroom. I know it's going to dry a lot lighter.
And here it is this morning, dry and wonderful. I love the color. And yes, I know it's going to fade but I think even then I'll still like it. Indigo certainly fades; my levis that I wear all the time are going pale blue and eventually white on me but I love every color in between. This was FUN! Black beans aren't just for eating anymore.
23 comments:
Very interesting experiment. Are you familiar with the work of Lorraine Glessner. She uses naturally died fabrics for the basis of her encaustic work.
http://www.lorraineglessner.net
Yes - very pretty color!
That is fabulous! You could even add some hand painting on it... :)
Beautiful!
Gorgeous color!
Who knew ! Such a great color !
What an extraordiary color! I think that as it fades it will become ever more subtle and organic---wabi sabi, as ths Japanese might say. Your one of a kind shirt is lovely and it pleases me to think of you in Royal Purple.
XO
Love it, so much fun seeing you process it, and with such great results!
I love the final result! Thank you for sharing this experiment.
I've always loved the color of the blck bean water...
Everything fades - even the chemically dyed fabrics, so what the h
Every time it fades, you have a "new" garment. Pretty clever, also to dye socks...boy do I have a drawerful of gray colored socks....wonder if I will get purple toenails?
ohhhh . . . love. i'm new to all this - feel like sharing your mordant recipe?
Mordant: 1 tablespoon alum + 1 teaspoon cream of tartar in enough water to cover the shirt well. Have fun and expect a surprise. :-D
Beautiful colour...and like the idea of doing your socks (especially the whites that have gone a bit grey!!!).
Thanks for sharing the process.
Jacky xox
Well!! I love black beans. I have them often. Out of the can! This post is the best reason to go buy a bag of them and dye something...maybe my dingy white socks. I LOVE the color...who would have thought that beans are not only good for the heart but also for the soles :) Thanks!
Beautiful results Judy! I don't think I'd mind the fading. You can always re-dye it right?
Hey! I love the smoky purple color! I would never have believed this could work, unless I'd seen the incomparable Judy show us!
Black bean dye. How fun and easy is that? Sounds wonderful. Judy, I have a question about cold wax. Is there a video class to take online? or what't the best book to read about it? I want to learn more about it and give a short demo for a class at Valley Art. thank you. - Jeanne Levy
oh i love the way it turned out and the color fading will be perfect... like wearing a new top every time you put it on!
You mentioned in Pt. 1 that you might be adding vinegar to change the ph. Did you end up adding that, and when?
No, I did not end up adding the vinegar. xo
Did you hand wash that shirt? I'm wondering if the black bean dye changes color when the fabric is heated....!!
Post a Comment