When I discovered aluminum triformate, it was exactly what I had been looking for: A cold process, no heating needed, and the possibility to reuse the mordant multiple times. Furthermore, the mordant leftovers can be easily disposed of and pose no particular issues for the environment. Alum (potassium aluminium sulfate) in itself as a mordant is not a good fit for many types of fabrics. The cellulose fibers do not get mordanted very well, and wool tends to get sticky. The alternative is alum/soda ash, but that is not good for wool either. The consensus so far was that aluminum acetate was the ..read more

Toen ik aluminiumtriformaat ontdekte, was dit precies wat ik zocht: Een koud proces, geen hitte nodig en de mogelijkheid om het beitsmiddel meerdere keren te gebruiken. Bovendien kunnen de beits resten gemakkelijk worden weggegooid en vormen ze geen bijzondere problemen voor het milieu. Aluin (kaliumaluminiumsulfaat) is op zichzelf als beitsmiddel niet geschikt voor veel soorten stoffen. De cellulosevezels worden niet zo goed gebeitst ('pakt' niet) en wol heeft de neiging plakkerig te worden. Het alternatief is aluin/natriumcarbonaat, maar ook dat is niet goed voor wol. De consensus tot nu to ..read more

When I discovered aluminum triformate, it was exactly what I had been looking for: A cold process, no heating needed, and the possibility to reuse the mordant multiple times. Furthermore, the mordant leftovers can be easily disposed of and pose no particular issues for the environment. Alum (potassium aluminium sulfate) in itself as a mordant is not a good fit for many types of fabrics. The cellulose fibers do not get mordanted very well, and wool tends to get sticky. The alternative is alum/soda ash, but that is not good for wool either. The consensus so far was that aluminum acetate was the ..read more

When I discovered aluminum triformate, it was exactly what I had been looking for: A cold process, no heating needed, and the possibility to reuse the mordant multiple times. Furthermore, the mordant leftovers can be easily disposed of and pose no particular issues for the environment. Alum (potassium aluminium sulfate) in itself as a mordant is not a good fit for many types of fabrics. The cellulose fibers do not get mordanted very well, and wool tends to get sticky. The alternative is alum/soda ash, but that is not good for wool either. The consensus so far was that aluminum acetate was the ..read more

Sukumo indigo holds a special place as a time-honored dyeing technique. Derived from the leaves of the Polygonum tinctorium plant, Sukumo indigo has been employed for centuries to produce rich, vibrant hues that adorn textiles rich with history and culture. Sukumo indigo has deep roots in Japanese culture. The technique is closely associated with Awa, the fertile region in Tokushima Prefecture, where indigo cultivation and dyeing have been practiced for generations. The name "Sukumo"  すくも - sukumo - means dye made of fermented indigo leaves. Aizome 藍染め means Indigo Dye. The Indigo Plant ..read more

Sukumo indigo holds a special place as a time-honored dyeing technique. Derived from the leaves of the Polygonum tinctorium plant, Sukumo indigo has been employed for centuries to produce rich, vibrant hues that adorn textiles rich with history and culture. Sukumo indigo has deep roots in Japanese culture. The technique is closely associated with Awa, the fertile region in Tokushima Prefecture, where indigo cultivation and dyeing have been practiced for generations. The name "Sukumo"  すくも - sukumo - means dye made of fermented indigo leaves. Aizome 藍染め means Indigo Dye. The Indigo Plant ..read more

Sukumo indigo holds a special place as a time-honored dyeing technique. Derived from the leaves of the Polygonum tinctorium plant, Sukumo indigo has been employed for centuries to produce rich, vibrant hues that adorn textiles rich with history and culture. Sukumo indigo has deep roots in Japanese culture. The technique is closely associated with Awa, the fertile region in Tokushima Prefecture, where indigo cultivation and dyeing have been practiced for generations. The name "Sukumo"  すくも - sukumo - means dye made of fermented indigo leaves. Aizome 藍染め means Indigo Dye. The Indigo Plant ..read more

If you have been reading my blogs you have seen a thing or two about creating dark shades using the magical collusion of tannins with ferrous sulfate. (See this blog) In this blog, we are going to explain why there is a particular order you should pay attention to. First: how does it work? The reaction between tannins and ferrous sulfate results in the formation of a dark-colored complex, commonly known as ferric tannate. This chemical reaction has been historically used in the production of ink for writing and drawing. So when we are using this combination on fabric, we are de facto creating ..read more

If you have been reading my blogs you have seen a thing or two about creating dark shades using the magical collusion of tannins with ferrous sulfate. (See this blog) In this blog, we are going to explain why there is a particular order you should pay attention to. First: how does it work? The reaction between tannins and ferrous sulfate results in the formation of a dark-colored complex, commonly known as ferric tannate. This chemical reaction has been historically used in the production of ink for writing and drawing. So when we are using this combination on fabric, we are de facto creating ..read more

Het is bijna het einde van het Gregoriaanse jaar. Wat een jaar was het (op veel, zeer tegenstrijdige manieren). Ik heb het gevoel dat ik, voordat ik doelen voor 2024 kan gaan stellen, met dankbaarheid terug moet kijken naar 2023. Ik heb het gevoel dat ik, na een paar jaar heel (heel) hard te hebben gewerkt, me nu kan concentreren op een gezonde balans tussen privé en werk en ook tijd kan besteden aan mijn persoonlijke spirituele ontwikkeling. Voordat ik begin met de hoogtepunten van elke maand, moet ik JOU eerst bedanken. De mensen die mijn website bezoeken, mijn berichten lezen en reageren of ..read more