To Dye For

The answer to last week's teaser photo. Well done Catriona, the only person to guess correctly that I have been learning about Rust Dyeing. The art of taking rusty pieces of metal and using them to create wonderful colours on fabric. Jane, at our Craft Group is something of an expert, and led a great workshop last Monday.

Lay your rusty items out on a sheet of wet cotton. Roll it up tightly, and tie firmly with string. Spray with a  water & vinegar solution, and wrap and tie in plastic. Write a "billet doux" to remind yourself to turn the bundle every two days, then unwrap, dry and rinse in saline solution. 

It looked strange as I took off the plastic  Saturday evening. My note [on the Shredded Wheat card scrap] had dyed itself too]

It was raining, so I hung the two A2 sized cloths [and the string, as Jane suggested] over the bath to dry. Rubber gloves, aprons and plastic sheets are recommended during the whole process, to protect clothes, skin and furnishings! Note the box of screws, washeds, nails and hinges which I had used. Once dry, I cleaned the bath, and ironed the fabric

Jane was wearing a rust-dyed apron at the workshop, and  dyed trousers! I am not sure what I shall do with these yet.

Have you any ideas?

Have you ever done rust-dyeing?