Process: Part 4 (Soaking & Boiling Plants)

Red Ginger Scarf

The boiling process was the most interesting part of this project because it did not turn out how I expected. The red ginger that I used was very red in color, yet my scarf came out more purple. I was also expecting the coloring to turn out much brighter than it did. However this was not the case. Although I was expecting different results, I was much happier with the way the scarf turned out. The bold, vibrant color of the red ginger plant did not similarly translate to the color that the plant produced. The end color was a lot milder and understated than the plant color. It looks natural and not at all like the artificial tie-dye people often use today. Through a piece of plant-dyed fabric alone, the simple and organic beauty of nature is obvious.
It was also surprising how the plant color transformed throughout the boiling process. Below, you can visual see how the dye bath color and plant pieces changed over time. The coloring was truly extracted from the plant.







Red Ginger Leaf Scarf



Hibiscus Tea Scarf




Aloe Scarf
I let the fabric soak in the aloe water for at least a full day. Unlike the other plants, the aloe did not turn cause the water to turn color too much. After a day, I boiled the aloe and the fabric together and let the aloe soak with the fabric. I noticed a pattern. When plants boil, their colors turn dark and they also have a very distinct smell.

Onion Skin Scarf
With the onion scarf, I did not boil the water. Instead, I let the fabric sit in the water with the onion skins for a little over a day. One of the reasons I did this was because onion skin is extremely delicate and thin; I was afraid that boiling it in water would deteriorate the skin. The soaking process took well over a day, and it was difficult for me to remain patient. However, luckily the water eventually turned yellow/orange and I was relieved. I also used a different fabric for the onion scarf. I had already experimented with cotton and silk, so this time I cut a different fabric. It is thin (like silk) and easily frays at the ends. I used this fabric because it seemed that the onion skins would produce a mild color, so I wanted to add another dimension to the scarf. This fabric has an interesting texture (with lines,) which is why I chose to use it.