Redfox 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2014 Hi Folks, I'm working on a project and would like to try dying some white marabou with lichen or moss any one have any ideas. I read on line if you boil the lichen for twenty minutes and them put the material in you should be all set. Thanks, RedFox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gunpowderleader 0 Report post Posted February 4, 2014 In order to prevent the color from water leaching you will need to use a color fixative such as vinegar. A common fixative bath is 4 parts cool water to 1 part white vinegar. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
petelangevin 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2014 Is that what you should soak them in after dying, or are you adding that mixture to the natural color solution given off from the lichen? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene L 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2014 Afterwards. The Treatise of Fishing with an Angle has several methods of dying using natural materials. It's online, in Medieval spelling of the title, something like "The Treatisse of Fysshhing with an Angle." One thing I remember is walnut skins for a green color of horsehair line. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted February 5, 2014 I'm not sure Lichen requires a mordent. Thats what you add to a dye to set it into a material for those not into all this dyeing lark. The Lichen was used traditionally for tartans and producing the natural browns, reds, yellow and olive green hues seen in tartans. Turmeric is another item not requiring a mordent. Also Coffee and tea. I was going to play with some lichen but its not as common as you think when you look around for it, you are looking at 1kg of lichen for half litre of water if I remember correctly. You will need to heat the material in the dye bath, so heat up lichen in water and then lift the lichen out when the colours leached into the water. Now put in material, bring to boil then allow to simmer untill the water starts to loose its colour and the material has taken it in. Avoid stirring the material too much if its wool or you'll make it into a felt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted February 6, 2014 I have several books on dyeing with lichens and many on dyeing with natural dyes. For dyeing purposes there are two main types of lichens. Orchil lichens give purples and crottle lichens give various shades of brown. The method to use depends on the lichen that you plan to use. A quick test would be to measure 50 to 200% of lichen to the weight of the marabou. Add everything to a pot of soft water. If your water is hard you can add a little vinegar to neutralize the water. Bring up the temperature of the water to about 175° F and hold for two or three hours. The color of the water won't change much if at all. Allow to cool overnight. It's only necessary to briefly rinse the marabou to remove the bits of lichen. Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redfox 0 Report post Posted February 14, 2014 Hey folks thank you for the information can't wait to try it. Will have to wait until it stops snowing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites