Away Too Long

Despite declaring just last week that I'm putting aside

all studio projects in order to meet an important 

mid-August deadline, this shirt -

this much loved, well-worn, (stained) white shirt - 

kept begging for a new lease on life.

Unable to ignore it any longer, 

out came a dye pot and a bag of yellow onion skins.

 I pre-mordanted the white shirt in tannin, 

and followed that with an alum soak.

The next day, the onion skins were simmered for an hour 

and then steeped for an hour.

Aiming for a mottled effect, I laid bands of onion skins 

directly onto the shirt hoping they would deposit 

concentrated doses of color where ever they made contact

with the shirt.

 Then, I carefully rolled it all up.

 Loosely tied with organic jersey strings, this is the bundle 

as it first entered the dye pot.

Mid-way through the 24 hour soak, I removed the strings  

and opened out the shirt allowing for full contact 

with the dye bath. 

Cross your fingers that the skins on the interior of the shirt 

had enough time to deposit concentrated color. 

 Rinsed and hung to dry, the shirt looks great.

A soft, mottled effect is visible, 

the overall color is rich, 

and I couldn't be happier!

This is the first natural dyeing I've done 

since last summer, and clearly I've been away too long.

After the mid-August deadline is met, I have a feeling that

the dye pots will once again be put to use.

Perhaps Indigo?

Now that's an exciting thought. :)