Eucalptus cordata leaves have produced rich orange and egg-yolk yellows in an experimental dye session with Anna Champeney Estudio Textil yesterday.
The experiment was based on information contained in the only specialist book in existence on the subject of eucalptus dyeing, by Jean K. Carmen (Dyemaking with Eucalpts, ISBN 0 7270 0648 7, Rigby in association with the Crafts Council of Australia), 1978).
The 4 year old Eucalptus cordata plant, sown from seed 4 years ago in Anna Champeney Estudio Textil (northwest Spain), and over-wintered under plastic, from seeds purchased from Chiltern seeds, were dried, broken up into pieces, soaked in cold water for about 4 hours and simmered for approximately 2 hours.
Dye student, Sofia, a topographer by profession, joined Anna Champeney Estudio Textil for private tuition, and assisted in the extraction and dyeing processes.
The following day Alum-mordanted skeins were entered in the cold dyebath and heated, once again, for approximately 2-3 hours to obtain the darkest shade. Leaving the skein overnight made little difference after this point. The maximum quantity of leaves was used, according to advice by Jean Carman. In this way 470g of dried eucalptus leaves were used with just 35g of wool. Lower ratios of dyeplant to yarn can be tried in future, but the experiment was designed to show the darkest shade that was possible using this species of eucalyptus.
L-r Logwood with Alum, logwood with copper, Eucalyptus cordata with alum, cochineal from Lanzarote with alum, lighter shades achieved from exhaust baths and with iron modifier. (Natural dyeing tuition and courses in north Spain with textilesnaturales)
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