Introduction: Eco Printing Tips and Tricks for Success (Free Download!)

By Fiber Artsy

9 Tips and Tricks that I have learned about Eco Printing or Eco Dyeing which can help a beginner succeed in making beautiful leaf and flower printed fabrics.


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WHAT IS ECO PRINTING OR ECO DYEING?


The way I understand it, Eco Printing is a form of natural dyeing where the colors from plant material are transferred to paper or fabric via steaming or boiling.


1 Choose The Best Fabric

  • Protein fiber fabric, in general, works better for all natural dyeing methods which includes eco dyeing or printing. This refers to any animal fiber such as silk, wool, alpaca, mohair, etc.
  • Cellulose or plant based fibers (cotton, linen, bamboo, etc.) can also be used but require more careful mordanting to bring out stronger deeper colors and make your fabric more colorfast.
  • Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon and acrylic are normally not recommended for eco printing.

2 Prepare the Fabric

  • Scour or Deep Clean Cellulose Fabrics (plant fibers such as cotton, linen, etc.)
  • Protein fiber fabrics (animal based wool, silk, etc.) can be damaged by high heat and are generally hand washed instead of scoured
  • Apply a fiber appropriate Mordant

3 Pick the right Leaves

  • Some leaves and trees that contain tannin: Black Walnut, Oak, Maple, Eucalyptus, Birch, Willow, Sumac, Laurel and Grape.

4 Prepare the Leaves

  • Soak the leaves (fresh or dried) in warm water for an hour or more.

5 Use a Color Modifier

  • A color modifier is a substance such as iron or copper that you can use to change the color and strength of the print or dye.

6 Use a Barrier

  • A barrier is a sheet of plastic or a second piece of fabric that is placed on top of the layer of leaves before rolling. This helps to prevent bleed through of the dyes and can give you clearer outlines.

7 Make a Dye Blanket

  • A dye blanket is a piece of fabric that has been dipped in some kind of dye beforehand. This dye is then transferred to your main fabric during the heat processing creating a ‘background’ of color.

8 Roll or Bundle Tightly

  • A tight roll ensures good contact between the cloth and the plant material resulting in clearer prints.

9 Apply Heat Correctly

  • To process your eco print bundles you need to apply heat. This is usually done in the form of either steaming or simmering.



Supplies

Step 1: The Basic Eco Printing Steps

  1. Mordant the Fabric
  2. Soak the Plant Materials
  3. Place the Leaves and Flowers the fabric and fold it over or cover with a second piece of fabric
  4. Tightly roll the folded fabric onto a PVC pipe or heavy stick
  5. Steam or simmer the bundle



Want to learn how to Eco Print? You can find step by step tutorials for eco printing on paper and fabric, how to eco print with flowers and more.


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