I just prept my cotton and paper in a soymilk bath and in my iron solution. Iโve had my iron vinegar standing for a couple of months already so it was pretty strong. Now i wonder if it is safe to discharge the solution down the drain after you used it? Or are there other safer ways to get rid of the diluted iron water?
If you just have small amounts, you can actually pour the leftover iron mordant bath around your garden – it is beneficial for acid-loving plants. Different states and territories have different rules about what can be poured down the drain, so you might want to check in if that is allowed where you live.
Ah thanks for the answer. I think it is aloud to pour down the drain here. I just want to make sure i donโt poison the eco-system. It is a small amount so i might use it for some plants.
Good morning! Hope you are all well. I was just preparing my fabrics with the mordant and binders. The ones I have soaked in the iron mordant solution have – naturally – taken on the greyish colour of the mixture which is exciting to experiment with! I was just wondering what to do in case I’ve wanted to keep the material in its original colour before dying? Is there a way to make a “neutral” iron mordant like with no colour to it? thank you Louise. happy weekend – Easter one over here in Greece ๐
I’d try using less of the mordant next time – I used a bit too much myself, which is why my fabric turned yellowish. A small amount is surprisingly potent. And even if the fabric changes colour slightly, once it is eco-printed often it is hard to tell because against the leaf prints the background looks close to white.
thanks Louise! another thing I’ve noticed – my mordant seems to turn all leaves into dark purple and flowers mostly into a kind of “dirty” green or also in a darkish grey- purple. Hm. Any thoughts on that? Might be totally normal considering the leaves I use… ( dried brown or fresh green ) Fabric that has been prepared with mordant is it safe to wear for kids? and compared to the rusty can process – is there much of a difference in terms of skin friendly-ness? Maybe after a proper wash with detergent it’ll be safe? ๐ x
Yes, iron is a ‘saddener’ so it turns more plant dyes blue or purple or brown. For brighter results, use a binder or even an alum mordant (you can make this by dissolving aluminum foil in vinegar but it takes a lot longer than the iron.) Once the fabric has been eco-printed and rinsed, all of the mordant has either bound to the fabric or the excess has washed off, so it is safe to wear. If you wrapped around a very rusty can and there is patches of rust that has transferred, I wouldn’t consider that to be skin friendly so would avoid wearing that.
Hey Louise! I have some foil dissolving in a jar now, probably for two weeks so far with no noticeable change. I know you said it takes a lot longer than the iron, what will the solution look like when it’s ready to use?
Hi Jess, I’d start with a small amount. Fill up to a third of a jar with foil, then cover with vinegar – don’t fill the jar to the top, leave plenty of space.
Hi Louise, do you ever put binder and mordant on the same paper or fabric? if so would you let one dry before putting the other on, or mix the 2 together and soak the paper/fabric in that? Thanks Jane
Hi Louise, My question is about the differences between the cooking and the steaming method: If I don’t want to dye the material, because I need only the prints and colours of the plants, Do I need the cooking in a dye bath process? Thank you, Judit
Hi Judit, yes you can certainly cook in plain water or steam the bundles instead of doing the dye bath. I personally donโt bother with steaming because it feels easier to just put the bundles in water, but some people prefer it.
Is the iron mordant toxic because it may cause heavy metal poisoning? I’m curious if the iron and vinegar create a noxious third substance I’m unaware of. Very interested in the science of this so I can plan my risks accordingly. Thanks so much for all you’ve shared so far!
Iron plus vinegar makes Ferrous Acetate, a common mordant. It would be dangerous to consume it, but really the risk from just touching it is very low, it is not very bioavailable through skin. But I prefer to encourage everyone to be overcautious.
Good day, I understand why my fabric is orange. I forgot to put water …? Can we wait a few days before making the impression? or do you have to print once the fabric is dry? kiss from France
Oh yes, that will do it! You might want to soak your fabric in water to get some of the excess iron off. You can eco-print on the fabric as soon as it is mordanted, that’s what we do in my workshops. But if possible it is good to let it dry and cure for a few days, to help it set in the fabric.
27 Comments
I just prept my cotton and paper in a soymilk bath and in my iron solution. Iโve had my iron vinegar standing for a couple of months already so it was pretty strong. Now i wonder if it is safe to discharge the solution down the drain after you used it? Or are there other safer ways to get rid of the diluted iron water?
If you just have small amounts, you can actually pour the leftover iron mordant bath around your garden – it is beneficial for acid-loving plants. Different states and territories have different rules about what can be poured down the drain, so you might want to check in if that is allowed where you live.
Ah thanks for the answer. I think it is aloud to pour down the drain here. I just want to make sure i donโt poison the eco-system. It is a small amount so i might use it for some plants.
Good morning! Hope you are all well.
I was just preparing my fabrics with the mordant and binders.
The ones I have soaked in the iron mordant solution have – naturally – taken on the greyish colour of the mixture which is exciting to experiment with!
I was just wondering what to do in case I’ve wanted to keep the material in its original colour before dying? Is there a way to make a “neutral” iron mordant like with no colour to it? thank you Louise. happy weekend – Easter one over here in Greece ๐
I’d try using less of the mordant next time – I used a bit too much myself, which is why my fabric turned yellowish. A small amount is surprisingly potent. And even if the fabric changes colour slightly, once it is eco-printed often it is hard to tell because against the leaf prints the background looks close to white.
thanks Louise! another thing I’ve noticed – my mordant seems to turn all leaves into dark purple and flowers mostly into a kind of “dirty” green or also in a darkish grey- purple. Hm. Any thoughts on that? Might be totally normal considering the leaves I use… ( dried brown or fresh green )
Fabric that has been prepared with mordant is it safe to wear for kids? and compared to the rusty can process – is there much of a difference in terms of skin friendly-ness? Maybe after a proper wash with detergent it’ll be safe? ๐ x
Yes, iron is a ‘saddener’ so it turns more plant dyes blue or purple or brown. For brighter results, use a binder or even an alum mordant (you can make this by dissolving aluminum foil in vinegar but it takes a lot longer than the iron.)
Once the fabric has been eco-printed and rinsed, all of the mordant has either bound to the fabric or the excess has washed off, so it is safe to wear. If you wrapped around a very rusty can and there is patches of rust that has transferred, I wouldn’t consider that to be skin friendly so would avoid wearing that.
Hey Louise! I have some foil dissolving in a jar now, probably for two weeks so far with no noticeable change. I know you said it takes a lot longer than the iron, what will the solution look like when it’s ready to use?
Once the liquid begins looking cloudy you can start using it, but it will probably still be another month or so.
Hello Louise, thank you for the course ๐
I’d love to make alum from tin foil and vinegar, roughly how much tin foil should I put into the vinegar?
Jess
Hi Jess, I’d start with a small amount. Fill up to a third of a jar with foil, then cover with vinegar – don’t fill the jar to the top, leave plenty of space.
thank you for your answers and time Louise! Much appreciated ๐ x
Hi Louise,
do you ever put binder and mordant on the same paper or fabric? if so would you let one dry before putting the other on, or mix the 2 together and soak the paper/fabric in that?
Thanks
Jane
Hi Jane, yes for that I would do the binder first, let it dry, then do the iron – could help to get richer colours.
Hi Louise,
My question is about the differences between the cooking and the steaming method:
If I don’t want to dye the material, because I need only the prints and colours of the plants, Do I need the cooking in a dye bath process?
Thank you,
Judit
Hi Judit, yes you can certainly cook in plain water or steam the bundles instead of doing the dye bath. I personally donโt bother with steaming because it feels easier to just put the bundles in water, but some people prefer it.
Thank you for your answer!
Fascinating! Excited to try the plain water boil as well, since I have a number of lightly colored fabrics and very few onion skins. ๐
Is the iron mordant toxic because it may cause heavy metal poisoning? I’m curious if the iron and vinegar create a noxious third substance I’m unaware of. Very interested in the science of this so I can plan my risks accordingly. Thanks so much for all you’ve shared so far!
Iron plus vinegar makes Ferrous Acetate, a common mordant. It would be dangerous to consume it, but really the risk from just touching it is very low, it is not very bioavailable through skin. But I prefer to encourage everyone to be overcautious.
Good day, I understand why my fabric is orange. I forgot to put water …?
Can we wait a few days before making the impression? or do you have to print once the fabric is dry? kiss from France
Oh yes, that will do it! You might want to soak your fabric in water to get some of the excess iron off.
You can eco-print on the fabric as soon as it is mordanted, that’s what we do in my workshops. But if possible it is good to let it dry and cure for a few days, to help it set in the fabric.
io non ho capito se una volta che e stato bagnato nel latte deve essere fatto asciugare ? o si puo usare subito?
scusa riformulo la domanda Quanto tempo deve asciugare prima di essere usato ?
A few days of drying is best. But at least overnight.
Thank you Louise.I just rewatched this. Looks like paper is not soaked for very long in Mordant…. just until the mordant is absorbed in the paper.
Yes, it only needs a short soak, perhaps 30 seconds or so. Itโs the same when mordanting cotton with iron – a short soak is sufficient.