Magic Marbled Cloth

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• 

  Step 1

  Collect a quantity of skins from brown and red (Spanish) onions. Have ready a piece of silk — habutai or crêpe de chine works well.

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  Step 2

  Lay the silk flat on the work surface and spread the onion skins over the silk.

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  Step 3

  Moisten using a hand-mister filled with vinegar (or any of the non-toxic home- made mordants). Starting at one edge, roll the silk with the onion skins inside.

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  Step 4

  When you have a sausage shape, roll that up as well. Tie tightly with string or fasten with rubber bands. Moisten the outside with a little more liquid, bundle in a plastic bag (or place in a jar with lid), and set aside for at least a week, preferably one month.

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  Step 5

  If mould appears, place the object in a snap-lock bag and freeze for a few days. Alternatively, steam it over boiling water for 30 minutes.

• Step 6

  Unwrap, shaking off the plant material (this is best done outside in the garden if you have one).

• Step 7

  Allow to dry, then press with a steam iron (use a pressing cloth). Allow to rest at least a few days before first rinsing.

• Step 8

  The most difficult thing about this method is resisting opening the bundle to check on the colour!

• Step 9

  Post-mordant in an iron-rich solution (or spray on using the hand-mister) and observe the colours change to olive greens and browns.

Comments

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yaddayadda · 15 projects 22nd March 2011

Any after shots?

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Jet H. · Haarlem, North Holland, NL · 108 projects 19th March 2011

smart trick, like this methode , think i will try it out too.
think you can use too cotton, i'm not so fond of silk-S
hey thank you for your great tute and the sharing!!!;-D

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