Using polk berries to dye (failed)

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Hey guys!! I was walking around outside earlier today and saw a polk plant that is almost done with it's producing season. I will admit that I was going to do this earlier in it's season when I would have gotten more berries but I did not remember until now.

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I had my little sister help with picking the berries.

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We got a bit less than I had hoped but maybe enough to color something.

Then I put all of the berries into a glass measuring cup and crushed them.

I boiled some water on the stove and put a small amount in my crushed berries. While my water was still heating, I put the items I was going to dye in a container of enough water to cover them and let them sit to get all of the air out of them.

At this point I was hoping I was not going to need to add something to them to make the dye stay. This project was a complete impulse and was very under researched. I have dyed things before but I know very little about the craft in general. I do however know enough about dying to have made sure my items were at least mostly natural fibers.

Then I put my items (still very wet) in the bottom of a large glass jar that came with a dye kit. I poured hot water over them and let them sit for just a few seconds before adding the dye mixture I made.

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I then stirred the water to make sure the dye was evenly distributed. Then I let it sit until it was Luke warm and stirred it periodically (but mostly just waited for it to cool).

This is where I discovered my mistake due to lack of research. I forgot to add what is called a mordent to my items before dying them.

I then added about two cups (ish) of white vinegar. I knew this was the wrong time to add a mordent but I was pretty desperate and hopeful that it would work. I then let it sit overnight.

I checked it the next morning, but when I rinsed one of the items under cold water it turned white again. I let it sit for a few more days, but after no change, I just rinsed out my items and put up all of my stuff.

I would have waited until a successful project to share with you guys but I am fairly behind on my posting already. I would love to hear about you guy's experience with dying and tips. As always, have a great day/night and stay healthy and creative!



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(Edited)

I feel like if you accidentally got some on your top, it would probably stain, but try to make an actual dye and it's a different story! Lol

Thanks for sharing anyway. Mistakes are the best way to learn. What sort of things can be used as a mordant?

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I know right? I have accidentally stained things with polk berries several times whilst playing around. I think a lot of things can be used as a mordent but I think it depends on the material or the dye. Vinegar is supposed to work nicely. Salt as well, Baking soda, I think certain iron can be used as a mordent.

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Nothing wrong with sharing the failures as well as the successes, this way anyone looking into it will know what not to do or perhaps they made the same mistake as you and can now figure out where they went wrong :)

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