ECO-PRINTING ON CELLULOSE FIBER Eco-printing is a contact printing technique. Leaves are placed over mordanted fiber and rolled tight in a bundle. Next boiling or steaming the bundle transfers the tannins from within the leaves to the fiber. Beginner experience level Instruction on pre treatment ( mordanting cellulose fiber) will be given and explained. However, fabric used for class will be pre-mordanted ready for use. We will experiment with medium weight linen that will provide technique for folding larger pieces in half that produce minimal center lines. Color dye carrier blankets will be used to transfer color over our leaf and fabric bundle. This will let us examine how different leaves are printing or acting as resists. The second print will be on a rayon scarf 14”x 72. The dye we will be using is Procion fiber reactive dye. The carrier dye blankets are cotton fabric that has been washed several times. You can use old cotton sheets. I find that the dye blankets themselves are very beautiful and I end up saving them for other uses.
Example: Quilts, linings and face masks. I like to use bleached white Kona cotton. There will be instruction on how to read your print results and adjust length of time in steamer. Also how to pre test your leaves for the amount of tannin they contain. The more tannin the better result of printing.
Level: Beginners
Instructor: Denise Arcuri bio
Materials fee: $30
Non-member: $120
Member: $100
Materials provided by instructor:
Mordanted medium weight linen aprox 23”x 44”, and rayon scarf 14”x 72”, Procion dye, twine , plastic wrap, iron acetate, plastic drop cloth, white plastic basket, shrink wrap, and written instruction on what was covered in class.
Materials to bring to class:
Gloves thin medical exam gloves Apron Plastic spray bottle with 50% vinegar and 50% water 2 wooden dowels 1 1/4 to 1 1/2“ diameter by 15” length. (Lowe’s/ home depo will cut to size) White cotton fabric 21/2 yds or old cotton sheets. Wash cotton several times Microtex pen can be bought Walmart, Joanns, Staples ( needs to be water resistant) Two old small kitchen towel sized rags Rubber bands Empty plastic gallon jug from water or vinegar (we will fill them with water to aid in making tight fabric bundles ) Some Leaves will be provided ,however bring some of your own to experiment and share.
LEAVES THAT PRINT WELL:
Maple, oak, any hard wood tree leaves Fruit tree leaves Rose Marigold petals Oak leaf hydrangeas Smoke bush Coreopsis, Pretty leaves that act more as a resist when using color dye blankets that leave interesting shapes Tulip tree leaves Kudzu Ginkgo Sassafras.
