I dyed !

THE HIBISCUS - 'u rose' mentions Kong Re

The Hibiscus Flower

THE JOURNEY

The journey towards the State's Eri Silk Village was pretty scenic.

All the way from Margar village, every kilometer was adorned with vibrant hibiscus flowers proudly displaying their red hues against the rugged and dusty landscape. Every traversed seemed to enhance the beauty of the scene as if nature itself was guiding the way with its colorful markers.

Despite the temptation to pluck the hibiscus flowers along the way, a sense of caution held us back, as if scared 'ioh shah ai sniew' a bad omen may fall on us. After we finished the work with the artisans, we asked Kong Re "Can I please pluck some hibiscus flowers for a dye experiment".

With no hesitation, Kong Re happily took a plastic bag and plucked them one by one ‘Un sa kylla rong kumto’ she said, pointing to the flower that fell on the ground withering away.

The experience was not only a lesson in the generosity of the artisans but also a reminder of the importance of seeking permission and respecting the environment and its inhabitants.

Hibiscus flowers proudly display their red hues

THE COLOR EXTRACTION

Once back home, we began our experiment with the hibiscus flowers we had collected.

First, we brought a pot of water to a boil.

Once it reached the right temperature, we carefully added the hibiscus flowers. With the flowers immersed, we let the mixture simmer gently for an hour, ensuring that the dye was thoroughly extracted.

Simmering the tea.

Extracting the color

YARN PREPARATION

While the dye was simmering, we prepared the yarn for dyeing. We did not use a mordant agent here which resulted in a slightly more muted color outcome.

YARN DYEING

We submerged the yarn into the pot, ensuring it was fully saturated. The yarn was simmering in the dye for an hour, allowing the color to penetrate the fibers thoroughly. We then left the yarn to steep in the dye overnight, allowing maximum absorption.

The Dye Process

THE WASH

After allowing the yarn to steep overnight in the hibiscus dye, we carefully removed it from the pot and rinsed it thoroughly with cool water. Using a mild soap, we gently washed the yarn to remove any excess dye and ensure that the color set was properly. The vibrant hues of the hibiscus dye emerged, revealing a range of beautiful pink and red tones. The color created a natural palette that mirrored the beauty of the flowers themselves.

THE OUTCOME

Our experiment yielded beautiful results, a testament to the wonders of nature and the art of natural dyeing.

The color !

With our dyed yarn in hand, we looked forward to exploring the possibilities of incorporating it into our creative projects, knowing that each strand carried the story of our journey and the vibrant color it carries.

- Get Inspired with da_la 'ti -