The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy ~ Module 10 Printing & other techniques

This is always an exciting topic! We will be looking briefly at the history of calico printing, followed by trying various different printing procedures on yarn and textile.

A brief history of Calico printing

I came from Rainbow fabric. I drank textile ink as mother's milk. I learned to sew, before I could walk. I could never become a nun. Purely because of the boring Fashion choices. ~ Pepper Winter

Name a person, who doesn't like colour. True, fashion today favours mainly neutral and soft tones, but that is also, because we have them all. Back in the day, when strong colours were a rarity, the stronger the better! Combining colours, via patterns on cloth? Swooning and true giddiness were known side effects! But now add something else: Lightness. The majority of Europe had never seen good quality cotton textiles and Europeans were mostly familiar with Linen, wool and rather expensive silks. When the East India companies introduced quality calico printed cottons to Europe, all hell broke loose; and best of all the cottons came in different qualities and therefore were affordable to almost everyone, something the wealthy would later on despise...Let us start with the story of two ladies…

In this lesson:

• Calico & print, a history
• Turkish red & Calico
• The first calico printing factory

Resists in form of ties & paints

In this lesson:

• What is Shibori?
• A Shibori technique ~ Honeycomb
• Resists: wax & paints
• Indigo resist pastes for cellulose
• Indigo resist pastes recipes & application

Mordant printing & discharge

In this lesson:

• What is a mordant paste?
• Using a mordant paste
• Suitable dyes
• The dyed style Mordant paste recipes
• The dyed style application
• The Mordant/dye paste direct application recipes
• The mordant paste/dye direct application process
• Acid discharge
• Acid discharge paste recipe & application

Eco printing

In this lesson:

• What is eco printing?
• How do we Eco print/bundle dye?
• What is an iron/dye blanket?
• The sustainable dirty pot

Yarn printing & dyeing

• Ikat or resist dyeing on yarns
• Space dyeing on yarns
• Bundle dyeing with yarns

 Interested in joining the one year course or finding out more? Please follow this link>>

Would you like to join the Natural Dyers & Growers Academy? Please follow this link >>