15
Sep
Walnut Husks Dyed Silk
Walnut Dye Bath Process
- Soak walnut husks with walnuts in, including broken husk pieces, in water for two days.
- Boil and simmer for 30 mins and leave soaking for another two days.
- Boil again to reheat and leave to cool to reach hand hot only for silk soaking.
- Remove husks and decant liquid to bowl.
- Add wet silk pieces
- Agitate frequently then soak overnight.
- Colour is already achieved if not soaked longer.
Silk takes up the brown dye bath quickly but keep turning and agitating occasionally while soaking. (Don't boil Ahimsa silk as it would roughen surface) Soaking is adequate for obtaining a reasonable colour.
Dye bath is quite dark after walnut husks soaked in water, so could be used without boiling. Longer soaking might even produce an even darker dye bath. There is a lot of pigment left in the dye bath and dye can be stored in jars. Fill to brim to avoid mould forming. it could also be used to add to other cream or gold dye pots to strengthen or darker tone. (not experimented yet)
[Note: Post restructuring in process: Images to be resized]
