Dyeing
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The Dyehouse is on the move
Firstly I would like to wish all my readers, followers, customers and friends a Happy New Year – may it bring peace and happiness and what you desire. “The time has come”, the Walrus said or actually I am saying – it’s a New Year better continue with the changes. You probably remember I had a pacemaker fitted in 2019, I was warned then not to lift anything really heavy – it could cause serious damage to my heart if the leads get pulled out – so the decision has been made not to dye cloth or large hanks of wool any longer. They are just too heavy! Combine this…
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Francesco, Niccolo and Agnolo
The building may look a little in need of some repair, but you can see it has had status! I adore this building in the city of Prato, Italy. It was built back in the 14th Century by a gentleman called Francesco di Marco Datini. All it’s history is still within the building – the open doorway takes you inside the Palace … The artwork on the walls is fabulous – imagine what it must have looked like back in the late 1300’s when all was beautiful and new. The display boards at the side tell you about the man who had the palace built and his work. So, why…
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The Colour of War
In 2013 I started researching Khaki ready for the commemorations of World War 1. I wanted to know how they were producing the colour – was it natural or synthetic? Here’s a summary of my research, originally written to be an article for the Journal in 2016, they wanted to make too many changes so I’m sharing it here. On the 4th August 1914 war was declared and thus a requirement to clothe over 6 million soldiers in British Army Uniform began. The story begins by looking back to the Victorian era and changes in Industry and the army uniform. The British Army was famous for its red coats (dyed…
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Dreams and reality?
I have some fabulous news to tell you! From Monday 1st November I will be a full time student again, studying at the University of Leeds. I have dreamed of researching the chemistry of dyeing and in particular the relationship between mordant and dye for more years than I care to mention (and probably bored you at events if you’ve given me an opening!). Science changed so much with the development of synthetic dyes, but unfortunately stopped for natural dyes in the early 1900’s. Now thankfully that is going to change! My studies are postgraduate research into mordants – the boring part of the process for most people, no colour…
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Something a bit different!
For one of the most complex dye processes there is, the first stage is to dunk your cotton (and it should be cotton – either yarn or cloth) into a bath made up of sheep dung dispersed in water. As I no longer own my own sheep I was lucky to find a field accessible and with the permission of the owner (all current guidelines being followed of distancing, mask wearing, mixing with others, etc). I was able to wander round the field and collect sufficient for the amount of cloth I want to prepare. More information on this particular subject will be coming up in the New Year, for…
