Cyanotype experiments on coffee filters

For several years at Quilt Camps, Sue and Elizabeth have experimented with Cyanotype on fabric.  The availability of ferns and other interesting botanicals in New Hampshire make them fun to do.  Of course, we also have made some at our homes in Virginia and Elizabeth has done some in the hot humid weather in Mississippi. Heat and humidity certainly affect the results as does the directness of the sun on any given day and if the sky is cloudy.  So many variables and it is the serendipity that makes it interesting.

Cyanotype is actually an alternative photography process developed in 1842 by English Astronomer, John Herschel who was interested in ways to copy his manuscripts and notes.  It was Anna Atkins who in 1843 used the process to catalog botanical specimens.  

In preparation for a paper collage workshop in a few weeks, Elizabeth has been experimenting with some cyanotypes while still in New Hampshire where it certainly isn't hot or humid and the sun seems to get weaker every day.  Even so, experimenting is fun and helps to build up a supply of papers from which to choose when the workshop begins.

Round coffee filters are an easy way to experiment.  They are quick to dry after applying the chemicals to the paper and you can treat many of them at once.

Following some instruction from the dharma website about Jacquard products (Jacquard is the company that makes the chemicals needed for cyanotype) she started bleaching and toning some of the exposed samples to see what the results might be.

Only a Soda Ash rinse for this one, you can see how it really bleaches out the cyanotype chemicals.

Here are some rinsed with Borax then with Soda Ash water and a final rinse in plain water,  Here she got a bonus print.  Coffee filters are very thin and she hadn't noticed that two were stuck together until they separated during the final rinse.   The lower filter was the one on the bottom.

This one was rinsed with Borax followed by Soda Ash and then a Hydrogen Peroxide rinse.  The hydrogen peroxide brings out more of the blue as it speeds up the development process.

This piece was rinsed in Soda Ash which bleached it out and then followed by Borax.  The brown streak in the middle is explained below.

These were swished in Borax, then a mix of Hydrogen Peroxide and water, followed by a dip in soda ash and another rinse in Hydrogen Peroxide and water.  Her scientific methods aren't quite as firm as they should be as measuring was loosey goosey, but approximately 1 part Borax to two parts water, 1/4 cup of soda ash to 1 gallon of water, and a glugg of hydrogen peroxide in a cat litter pan full of water.  Surely, on different days with different amounts of chemicals, different temperatures, different types of treated papers, results will vary a lot.

The brown streaks on the prints above came from hanging them over a drying rack.  Previously a tee-shirt which had been soaked in soda ash had been hanging on the rack and the residual soda ash bleached out the streaks in these two pieces.

There are other toners and bleach you can also use.  Let us know if you have done any experimentation.

Using Color Magnet

One product we enjoy using when we are dyeing fabrics or t-shirts at Quilt Camp is Color Magnet by Jacquard.  It attracts additional dye to the spot where it is applied.  We have used it successfully in both an immersion dye bath and in an ice dye.

The first step is to apply the Color Magnet to your fabric.  Because Thermofax screens are our focus, we often apply it just as we would paint through the screen.  We put a small amount of Color Magnet on the top area of the screen and use a squeegee to pull the Color Magnet through the design.  A word of caution - Color Magnet is thinner than the textile paints we usually use, so more care must be taken not to use too much.  It is easier for extra to seep through the screen.

Another way to apply the Color Magnet is with a piece of sponge.  Here it is done with a sponge dauber which has a handle but a cut up piece of sponge would also work, either a natural sponge or the type used to wash cars work well.  This example shows it being applied to a wooden stamp.

Just as with paint, you have to be careful when applying to the wooden stamp so that the excess doesn't flow into any grooves.  If it does, it could also print on your piece beyond the area of your stamp.  This process works best using a piece of thick craft foam under the fabric. This foam absorbs some of the pressure when you push down on the stamp and helps make contact only where the image is on the stamp.

The Thermofax screen of a Luna moth design (below) looks nice on a desert green MX Procion dye which was an immersion dye bath.  Only the desert green color was in the dye bath; the darker color of the moth is from where extra dye was attracted to the Color Magnet.  The color in real life is more green than blue as this photo would indicate.  The fabric was soaked in soda ash first and then dried and ironed prior to printing with the Thermofax screen.

The same dye was used with a Thermofax screen of sunflowers.  Notice that you do need to be careful not to drip the Color Magnet on your fabric as any place it touches will now attract additional color from the dye.

Oops, I guess this part is destined to be cut out as an applique.

Below is the same dye bath of desert green but the Color Magnet was applied with the wooden stamp instead of the Thermofax screen.

The wooden block is a bit more difficult to use than the Thermofax screen because the Color Magnet is trickier to apply evenly over the wood of the stamp.

Our newest ginkgo design Thermofax screen worked nicely with the Color Magnet.  This screen and two other new ones have recently been added to the shop.  We hope you try this product and let us know how it works for you.

The end of Quilt Camp 2021

Sue left this morning so it is the official end of Quilt Camp 2021.  Oh, we will still create; just not together and there is a lot to be said for working creatively in a pair or group.  Luckily, we will be back together in Pennsylvania for a Red Thread Retreat at the end of September.

Often after someone leaves it feels empty and quiet and so a walk is a good way to get over that feeling.  Here are a few photos from Elizabeth's walk after Sue left.

A nearby pond is covered with water lilies.

A small island is a canoe ride away but today the lake was a bit choppy for canoeing.

We don't stay empty here for long and a new friend arrives for dinner and the long weekend.

On the creative front, Molly has another new shirt.  She likes how the white polyester thread didn't dye and is left white on the bodice and around the hem.

Quilt Camp Day 9

Our last day of quilt camp, it is always sad to see Sue clear off her workspace.  Henri robbed us of two extra days of camp as we both thought it might be too rainy for Sue to drive up during its trip through New England.  We surely didn't do the driving around and taking mini field trips that camp usually includes but decided staying close to the studio was best during the pandemic.  Hopefully, future camps can include some side trips and other types of fun.

We did work on a few new screens for the shop and watch for a new newsletter in the next week.  If you aren't subscribed to our newsletter you can do so here.

This is our new birch bark screen printed with navy acrylic fabric paint.  It makes a very effective textured background.

Another new screen is cat tails as seen here printed on three different background colors.

A third new screen will be what we're calling Becky's Ginkgo, because they were drawn by Elizabeth's sister Becky.  You may have seen these previously on some of the T-shirts Elizabeth dyed.

Sue did another cyanotype experiment, this time coating previously painted postcards, then setting them out to print along with another notecard.

And so another quilt camp comes to a close.  Stay tuned as we make an effort to do a better job keeping up with the blog!

Quilt Camp Day 8

We are winding down and not starting anything that can't be finished in a day as Sue is preparing to leave on Friday.  :(

Today we did more washing out of fabric batching in dye, a bit more cyanotype, and worked on some PGFiber2Art "business" stuff.  Also, we have some pictures to share that didn't make it into yesterday's post.  Sue did a re-dip of some of her "ugly" fabrics in the indigo pot.  Both of the pieces below were originally a gold/brown fabric that Sue posted a few days ago.  The first indigo treatment helped, but they still needed more, so this is what they look like after the second dip in the indigo pot.

The piece below is one that originally looked like a cow - brown with white spots!  If you go back to Day 6, you can see the original fabric and what it looked like after the first dip in indigo.  In the piece below, the circles along the edges came out clearly the first time, but the rest was still blah.  So Sue cut off the circles and refolded the center for another dip.  Below you can see what it looks like now.  Much improved!  And how it would look with the circle strips placed beside it.

 

Another technique tried today was cyanotype printing on notecards.  The chemical solution was applied to notecards with a bristle brush, allowed to dry, and then printed with plant material.  Even though it was a cloudy day, the process worked well.

Elizabeth printed two small cyanotypes on fabric, a dill blossom and another with goldenrod and broccoli seed pods.

A new screen soon to be in the Etsy shop is birch bark.  Here it is, printed with Color Magnet and then dyed in avocado green and black (which was old dye and turned purplish).  It will be a nice addition for those who need a screen to add texture to your fabrics and designs.  It could also be printed with paint, it doesn't have to be Color Magnet. If you have a photo you think would make a good textural screen, contact us at pgfiber2art.gmail.com or through the Etsy shop. 

The day ended with rain and an amazing sunset, even while it was raining!

Quilt Camp Day 7

Day 7 was busy with lots of time spent washing out dyed fabrics and another round in the indigo pot.

Another ice dyed t shirt for Molly but this time the dye is on top of the ice instead of under it.  Watch for the results in a few days.  Two blends of yellow and one of red.

After refreshing our indigo bucket, we did quite a number of indigo pieces today, many of them over top of other techniques such as "not so stellar" dyed pieces and some over rust too.  It feels like a very satisfactory way to improve those dud pieces you sometimes end up with.

Along with washing out some dyed pieces and the indigo above, Sue also did  another sun print and cyanotype prints.

Molly got a new shirt with hand drawn ginkgo leaves screen printed around the hem and on the pocket.  It was ice dyed with a color called Marine.

Molly sure does like watching the sun set.

More fun things to unveil tomorrow.