Welcome to a new series on this blog, called This Vs That, where we’ll compare 2 different aspects of natural dyeing.
I’ll be writing about topics like wool versus cotton, fabric versus paper and steaming versus boiling. And we’ll hone in some of the benefits of one versus the other, as well as just getting clear about how they vary, when different preparation is required, or the different methods involved.
Let’s get started with our first topic…
Natural dyeing vs eco-printing
What is it?
Natural dyeing
- Broadly speaking, natural dyeing refers to using any natural dyestuff to impart colour onto a base. The base is usually fabric, but could also be wood, paper etc.
Eco-printing
- Eco-printing is a specific type of natural dyeing, where dyestuff is placed directly onto fabric or paper.
Which dyestuff do you use?
Natural dyeing
- Dyestuff is often plant derived (eg leaves, bark, flowers) but can include minerals (such as ochre), insects (such as cochineal) and even shellfish secretions.
Eco-printing
- Only some of the dyestuff used for natural dyeing is suitable for eco-printing with. Generally you would use flat dyestuff, like leaves or pressed flowers, rather than bulky dyestuff like acorns.
How do you do it?
Natural dyeing
- There are many different methods of natural dyeing, but generally what most people would think of when they hear the term is heating dyestuff in water to create a dye bath, and then soaking fabric in that dye bath to pick up the colour.
Eco-printing
- Dyestuff is placed directly onto the fabric or paper and held in place through folding or rolling into a bundle. The bundle is heated, and again the heat releases the colour, but because the dyestuff is held in place against the fabric or paper, it just releases colour wherever it is touching, creating wonderful leaf or flower shaped prints.
What does it look like?
Natural dyeing
- Fabric can be dyed evenly all over, to create a solid colour. OR it can be scrunched, folded or tied up, to create a pattern of dyed and undyed sections, like this onion skin scrunched dyed sample.
Eco-printing
- Results can vary from distinct leaf and flower prints like the herb Robert print below, to more abstract colour fields.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this simple comparison of eco-printing vs natural dyeing. Overall, they are both beautiful ways to connect to the plants around you and discover their colours.
If you’re interested in learning more, I go deeper into each of these topics in my book, Leaf & Colour (also available as an ebook). It’s a complete introduction to both natural dyeing and eco-printing on cotton. In it, you can learn how to use simple materials from your kitchen and garden to create clear, bright leaf prints and sections of solid dye.
