I didn’t buy the red cabbage, it appeared in my fridge, the first time I have ever owned one.
“The red cabbage (Brassica oleracea) contains pigments known as anthocyanins. Anthocyanins belong to a large group of water-soluble natural pigments responsible for the attractive colors ranging from strawberry red to the blue color of most fruits, flowers, leaves, and some vegetables. Anthocyanins are commercially used as a colorant in acid solutions such as soft drinks. At various H+ concentrations these compounds rearrange their molecular structures giving rise to different colours.”
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I decided to experiment. Boiling the cabbage gave the liquid the colour above right.
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Into the pot I placed a hank of alpaca, with some silk roving and merino roving. An immediate colour change to ruby red. Mmm, maybe because of the alum mordant.
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These are the colours achieved after a number of rinses – left pic from top: merino wool, silk and alpaca. I love the soft natural colours.
A big question mark at the moment is whether the colours will survive a wash or two or more. I’m not too hopeful after the reading I have done. But, nonetheless, it is all a fascinating learning experience.
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3 comments:
Years ago I helped my sons with a primary school science experiment, using red cabbage as a pH indicator. A versatile vegetable!
Judy
love your dye work leslie. your eco dye and red cabbage is all good. you are getting some interesting tones. Hope you have a fanstastic holiday.
xt
I like the misty rose colour you've achieved.
I've also made some dye experiments with red cabbage and iron liquor mordant. I've got blue fabric.
http://www.sewhistorically.com/how-to-dye-blue-with-red-cabbage-a-tutorial/
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