It all looks so simple, you take a few leaves, roll them up, boil them down, and presto; there is your eco-printed scarf. In reality, this work comes with a lot (a lot!) of extra gear that takes ups a lot of space.
And it is ever-growing!
I encourage each and every one to lead a minimalistic lifestyle, but I am about to share a few tips that will make your botanical printing easier!
1 The Laser Thermometer.
I think I ruined three digital thermometers so far, the ones used for cooking that is. Something about the alkaline/acidity of the dye baths sends them to an early death, and lately, I was just eye-balling it.
In comes; the digital laser thermometer. Super accurate! Cheap!
True, we spent a nice afternoon checking the temperature on various objects, but my dye baths are the real beneficiaries here, being checked in a matter of seconds and super accurate.
Available here.
2 The Digital PH Meter or Ph strips.
Measuring Ph is essential when building an indigo vat, or when working with natural dyes.
The regular way of PH measuring is with lakmus papers, I have a few sets laying around for whenever I need.
Or go super fancy with a digital PH meter, and never looked back. Just make sure you rinse well after use.
Available here.
3 The Digital Spoon Scale
Exact measurements are so crucial for good results! A simple digital kitchen scale can be a good start, but these spoons are ideal for measuring dyes, mordants and assists, such as madder and soda ash.
Very accurate and does not take up as much space as a regular digital scale. When you are working with small amounts that need great accuracy, this is your friend.
You can calibrate it, and it works in both grams and oz for my American friends.
If you work with large quantities you are probably better off with a regular digital scale, but I like my spoon a lot and it works for me.
Now available here.
4 The Broom Stick.
My all-time favorite for rolling botanical bundles. Cheap, readily available in all home supply shops, and easy to adjust in length. I cut them up in pieces of around 40 cm, so they fit in my Chafing Dish.
5 Rubber bands!
I use a lot of rubber bands, for shibori style fabric scrunching, but especially to secure my botanical prints.
I make a daisy chain with the bands, and then wrap my botanical bundle with that. This allows me to tie really tight without damaging my hands.
6 The Chafing Dish.
Second-hand restaurant supply stores are your best friend for chafing dishes. They come in all sizes but take the 45 cm long one, which will fit 6 bundles snuggly with ease.
Because of the rectangular shape, they take up less space in storage and stack easily. The smaller-sized dishes are great for natural dyes. The 45 cm chafing dish I warm on a double electric plate or on my gas stove. And with the steaming insert or an impovised rack, I can easily turn the chafing dish into a steamer.
Was this helpful for you?
I appreciate your feedback! You are welcome to share this post on Pinterest and.