Alternate Eco Print Processing
Well, I’m a bit nervous about posting this but here goes anyways… Yes, it’s unconventional but it works for me! Make it easier for yourself and possibly save as well. I’m happily sharing my Alternate Eco-Printing processing method.
What I love:
This amazing and mysterious art form called ‘Eco Printing’ or ‘Printing with Botanicals’ has got me hooked for quite a while now. How amazing is it to use nature’s gifts and try to decipher how to make it react according to your wishes! Check out some of my posts of the different techniques here. Let’s just say it’s like performing magic tricks…
What I did not like:
I love that I can use what nature discards and up-cycle fabric but the part that involved a high use of energy did not impress me that much. Sure, if you live in a rural setting and have tons of firewood and places to cook outdoors like India Flint you are very fortunate! I could try to do that but I may just burn down the forest. So I figured out another option…
Generally, there are 2 options for processing the tied bundles (in whatever format you’d like); steaming or boiling in liquid. I tend to prefer the steaming as it gives some nice distinct prints and there is more control of ‘wetness’.
How to Prepare your bundle:
Ok, please don’t shoot me for using plastic. I know I know, it’s not environmentally good. I DO however reuse the bags from food packaging and barrier sheets so many times, just saying.
After the usual rolling and placing the leaves (pre-dying and/or using iron blankets) roll as tight as possible. I use a barrier layer and have used the same ones for over a year. Tie tightly.
The fuzzy fabric that you see is a piece of an old wool blanket. Wheyn dyeing some wool I noticed how wool does not like to hold onto moisture; it kept dripping out. Other fabrics are not quite like that and wool can take quite a beating. I wet the wool and wrap my bundle in it. One or 2 layers is quite enough as I just want to create a nice damp place for the bundle.
Once its wrapped I pop it into a recycled bag and roll the excess using an elastic to keep it closed. (wrapped bundle on the right above) It is quite air tight.
The Secret Heat:
Here it is; I use a microwave! BUT, and a big BUT! you can NOT use any metal pipes or utensils in it! I use my wood curtain-rod dowels. You may also have some size restrictions; as with the width of the microwave. I measured the small one I have (dedicated to dyeing and eco-printing) and made sure my bundles can fit on the turn table.
It is a bit of guess-work to decide on ‘cooking’ times. I love my temperature gun for figuring out how hot a surface is. I set the microwave for 2 minutes and then I check the temperature with the gun and with my hand. Traditional steaming may build slower but will probably be around 180F or so. Turn the bundle and set for another minute if need be. A microwave heats by vibrating (exciting) the water molecules so it is important to have a damp environment (wet wool encased in plastic) and watch that it does not overheat. It is also important not to have your roll too wet if distinct prints are wanted. It will possibly start to ‘puff up’ which is signalling that it’s boiling. Stop it at that point as I feel boiling is too strong.
When comparing to steaming in a pot on the stove or turkey roaster there will be times when turning or checking that you will lose heat so it too does not hold a constant temperature.
Here the temperature gun is showing 154F but I aim for 160-180F as I believe the internal temperature will be higher. The encasement keeps the smells down as well.
The Other Secret:
If you ‘zapped’ it repeatedly it would be getting too hot and possibly start to melt things. Insulation is a great alternative to keep an almost constant heat. We all know it can work wonders as I use that to keep food hot when having people for dinner, a trick I saw when catering was dropped off. I keep a big thick wool blend blanket close to the microwave to quickly pop the roll into after it’s heating cycle. I snuggle it under many layers of the blanket and let it be for a while… A roll lets you also turn it easily and stick your finger in to see how darn hot it still is.
How long? Well that can vary to what I am doing, but it’s not using any energy so I am flexible. I may come back after an hour and feel how hot it is and just give it a ‘zap’ for a minute and then back under the covers. The moisture stays put and the heat lasts quite a while…
Many times I just let them ‘sleep’ overnight and have something to look forward to in the morning. They are pretty happy in there.
I realize it seems to be far from the rustic way that I picture India Flint over an iron cauldron on a wood fire and emitting quite the aroma. Since my bundles are encased I do not find excess aroma but some may be more sensitive than I. My microwave is in a large laundry room away from living space. The most aroma I have is when I unbundle.
I have used this technique for a very many bundles but I’d like any feedback that you’d like to share. As you may also find it is difficult to find exact information on this technique as many who have somewhat ‘cracked the code’ would like to only share in pricey workshops. I understand as it takes much energy and supplies to figure out a technique so freely sharing seems silly.
As many Eco printers will agree; sometimes it just works and sometimes it’s a mysterious flub. I don’t see that this method has had any negative impact on my prints but do proceed with usual caution and care and above all be safe.
Happy printing!
Hello,
This is Namrata frm Bangalore, India. Thank you for all the information on our website. A true treasure. I have just started to experiment on eco print and notice that there is a lot of smudging effect i get when doing larger pcs. When doing samples the print is clear, defined, but when doing a mtr or more the colour spreads and am not sure of the reason. I do put in a layer of plastic sheet over the blanket for the leaves to come into direct contact while rolling. However, i am not sure why does this happen. I would be happy to share an image on your email id of the fabrics.
I am wondering if its because i am leaving the bundle for more than 2 hrs in the steam? or is the fabric too wet while placing the leaves and rolling it into bundle?
Your valuable input would be of great help!
Thank you
Warm regards
Namrata
It may be that once the layers/rolling gets thick the contact is not as flat and rigid as against the wood dowel. I tend to not like rolling large pieces for this reason. I also like to print and then sew so it’s easier to roll. Wetness can play a factor, as well as turning often. I like to ‘accept’ the imperfections as that’s part of the charm. ‘Or make that be part of your design intentions… You will start to obersve what gave different outcome…
I like your ideas on short cuts. I do the same thing with dyeing fleece. I don’t have the time to slave over a boiling pot and it tends to make the resulting fleece harsh. When I do find the time, I will look forward to trying your method.
Tthank you for sharing.
Penny.
Thanks! I have not had it disappoint me! Sooooo much less energy… Happy printing
Hi Barb, I was wondering if you have tried the microwave method on paper and if so, did you wrap that in the wool and plastic as well?
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!
Yes! Here is the paper method: Eco printing on paper and some tips to make better prints Hope it helps!
I’ve a successfully made dye from some lichen. Do you have step by step instructions on how I use it on cotton fabric ( t-shirts). Thank you.
I have not had the opportunity to make lichen dye. I wonder if it is PH sensitive? Like to play with some drips to see how it reacts with iron, an alkali and acids. Otherwise you could do some small test on old cotton sheet pieces, mordant with Aluminum Acetate, alum/tannin, or soy dips.
I am just starting and needed to buy a wooden dowel. I wanted to pass along that I found really big ones (2 inch diameter) at Home Depot and they are not only larger around than wooden closet rods but cheaper. No idea why! Also, the plastic that our newspaper comes in can be recycled to cover the wool (that you wrap around the fabric).
Thanks for the tip! I used some of the wood curtain rods. Yes, please recycle the plastic form other uses if you use it. Happy printing!
Hello Barb,
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience, it is so valuable. I would like to ask whether the microwave can then be used for cooking or you need a microwave just for ecoprinting. Thank you.
I would say that you should use a dedicated one. I also use it to process the fibre reactive dyes. You are never really sure what may come out of the bundle. That is the case with any pots or utensils that you use. Happy printing!
I am mesmerized by your eco printing on wool. I have previously dyed 100’s of pounds of mohair when we raised Angora Goats so am familiar with the dyeing process. I now make purses, bags wallets and hats from upcycled natural fibre garments. This process would be fabulous for bags. Can’t wait for spring to collect leaves and try this out. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and inspiration. I live in the North Okanagan in BC
Yes, I know the feeling! The fact that it’s unpredictable in ways makes for even more intrigue. This would definitely add to your art form! I’d love to see when you get going. Yup, lotsa snow here in Ontario right now…
Thank you for posting this – I too live in the cold and now with all the snow on the ground, I had happy thoughts of gathering the blessings of the forest and trying this. I adore the pillows you made – they are absolutely beautiful and so natural. Thank you for the inspiration!! I will pass it on.
Ki in Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
I’m sure you could adapt with local species by having a barrier in the fold and arranging the leaves similarly. I will have to try that! ‘Cause I love my maples I have a stock pile of dried leaves, wish I had ‘stock pile’ of time! Stay warm!
Me encanta el resultado del teñido. Es una pena, para mi, no saber inglés, me pierdo todas sus explicaciones. Traduzco un poco en Google, pero no es lo mismo. Muchas gracias por compartir. Un gran saludo desde España.
(I love the result of the dyeing. It’s a shame, for me, not knowing English, I miss all his explanations. I translate a bit on Google, but it’s not the same. Thank you very much for sharing. A big greeting from Spain.) That is how I felt when I started as many did not share any info. Try and experiment and you will start to learn… That’s the best way!
Is your cloth in the pictures already dyed? Do you use any mordants when you do this microwave dyeing?
I love that you are sharing your process with all of us. Thank you!
Well, this post is just about how to process the bundle. Check the posts under the eco print menu for many tutorials about dyeing and mordants. Yes, those use cochineal and madder dye.
I have a question how can I eco print a piece of cotton of 60 cm in width and 170 in length?
Thank you already for all the good tips and tutorials on your website.
You can roll it on a bendable type of hose. See this post You can also do a doubled over type of rolling to get more width. I like to print first and then sew. You could also try a more squared type of folding like shibori and place leaves in the folds; like I did here