Playsilks, Wow! Skip the KoolAid!

[JamieCatheryn]

I just dyed green and yellow playsilks naturally and it was way easier than I thought. I had some tumeric and some liquid chlorophyll already and white vinegar. Just filled a stockpot with enough water to cover the silks, heated it up while adding enough of whichever pigment to make the water go opaque, stirred in the cloth and brought it up to a simmer, then added some vinegar, 2/3 cup for two 35x35" silks, stirred now and then keeping it over low heat for 10 minutes. Then rinsed and washed and dried them. The yellow came out bright, great for summer. You could go less time even just a quick dip in the solution for a soft yellow. The green is soft and springlike. I love them!

[kalisis]

Awesome!

[Proudmomoftwinsplusone]

nice! i read tumeric is a good dye. what is liquid chlorophyll? did you use mordant first?

[JamieCatheryn]

The chlorophyll is a dietary supplement extract thing, you know the green pigment in leaves and everything that's involved in photosynthesis, that stuff. But I only needed a little as supplement then I didn't read where it said refrigerate after opening so I let it sit, thought maybe it wouldn't be good to take internally anymore so I should try dyeing with it. The vinegar acted as the mordant I suppose, for protein fibers like silk all you need is an acid.

[Proudmomoftwinsplusone]

i just used turmeric and it turned out beautifully. i need to find the chlorophyll now. should i look at a health food store?

[amandaleigh37]

great ideas.... I used coffee grounds on one and it made a very pretty light brown.. more like a dark tan, but i loved it