I collected this bark from 2 trees; Eucalyptus Viminalis, Manna Gum, and Eucalyptus Archeri, Alpine cider gum (Tasmania) in Hillier Arboretum, Hampshire, UK.
The bark falls off the trees ready for easy collection.
- Eucalyptus bark soaking in dye pan.
Break up bark and leave to soak for a day or overnight. I added 3 leaves to ensure a colour result (as dye instruction books use leaves for strong result). I heated to boil, then simmered for 1hr to 1hr 30mins. Remove bark and put silk in pot. (I pre-mordanted the silk by soaking in water with alum in a bowl overnight; although not necessary with Eucalyptus). It wasn’t necessary to reboil and simmer the silk in the pan as it took up the dye well immediately, and quickly grew darker. After about an hour of soaking, frequently moving around, I heated it for about 10 mins and again left it to cool soaking.
- Silk rapidly absorbs bark dye
Silk absorbs bark dye very well, and quickly. I left it in cold dye bath for 1 hr then simmered the pot for 10 mins.
- Lace fabric on fist placing in dye bath (content unknown; likely cotton/polyester mix.) It rapidly takes up the dye, although it was not pre-mordanted.
Lace fabric on fist placing in dye bath (content unknown; likely cotton/polyester mix.)
It rapidly takes up the dye, although it was not pre-mordanted, like the silk was.
- Lace fabric having taken up the dye after an hour or so simmering
- Washing out dyed silk, to remove excess dye.
Final colour is a rich gold: silk looks very bright in sunlight; a deeper old gold tone indoors.
- Silk dyed with bark, rinsed and dried.
Adding rusty water (iron) deepens the colour of silk and lace in two more samples.
- Second silk sample modified after dying with rust water.
To follow up… a new garment using both silk samples with silk painting is in the making. Colour combinations of blues with deep gold highlights, picking out colours in the prints.
- Charity shop clothes – chosen colour combination with ‘Eucalyptus bark’ dyed gold silk
- The design will be for a jacket, with the added lace pieces; also dyed with the eucalyptus bark
