making greens https://kristinarzt.com/blogs/guides/how-to-dye-natural-green
To create a green print paste for cotton, you typically mix a thickener with green fabric dye or a combination of yellow and blue dyes. Sodium alginate is the most widely recommended thickener for cotton as it is derived from seaweed and allows for fine line definition without bleeding.
1. Choose Your Thickener
Thickening the dye into a paste is what allows you to screen print, stamp, or paint designs directly onto the cotton fabric without the color running
Sodium Alginate (SH Grade): The standard for cotton. It is a seaweed-based powder that creates a smooth, “rubber cement-like” consistency.
Jacquard Sodium Alginate SH: Highly recommended for cotton; it can be stored in the refrigerator for months once mixed.
Thick SH: A high-viscosity version specifically designed for cotton.
Guar Gum: A natural alternative that hydrates quickly in cold water but can be more sensitive to pH extremes.
Rublev Colours Guar Gum: Often used to thicken water-based paints and emulsions.
2. Select Your Green Dye
For cotton (a cellulose fibre), Fiber Reactive Dyes like Procion MX are ideal because they form a permanent chemical bond with the fabric.
Fiber Reactive Dyes (Procion MX): These are the most vivid and washfast options for cotton.
Jacquard Procion MX Forest Green: A concentrated powder that produces deep, permanent greens.
Jacquard Procion MX Bright Green: Good for lighter, more vibrant prints.
All-Purpose Dyes: Easier to find but may require more care during the “setting” process to ensure long-term washfastness.
Rit All Purpose Liquid Dye Kelly Green: A pre-mixed liquid option available at retailers like Walmart Canada.
3. Preparation Process
Mix the Base Paste: Dissolve the thickener in water. For sodium alginate, typical ratios are roughly 2–4 teaspoons per quart (approx. 1 litre) of water. Use a blender for the smoothest results and let it stand for at least an hour (or overnight) to fully hydrate.
Add the Dye: Mix your chosen green dye powder or liquid into the base paste. If you don’t have green, mix equal parts yellow and blue dye.
Print: Apply to clean, dry cotton using a screen, block, or brush.
Fixing: Most cotton dyes require a fixative like soda ash to make the color permanent. You can either pre-treat the fabric in a soda ash solution or add it directly to the paste (though this reduces the paste’s shelf life).
Key Techniques with Gum Thickeners
Direct Printing/Painting: Mix a concentrated natural dye (like madder or turmeric) with gum arabic to create a paint-like consistency. This is applied directly to pre-mordanted cotton using stamps or brushes.
Mordant Printing: Instead of thickening the dye, you thicken the mordant (like alum) with gum. You print the pattern with this paste, let it dry, and then dip the fabric into a dye bath. The color will only bond strongly where the thickened mordant was applied.
Resist Printing: Thickened pastes (often involving gum and clay) can be used as a “resist” to block dye from reaching specific areas, particularly in indigo dyeing. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Step-by-Step Process for Cotton
Preparation (Scouring): Cotton must be boiled with soda ash and detergent to remove oils and waxes that prevent dye absorption.
Mordanting: Apply a mordant like alum or aluminum acetate (10% of fabric weight) to ensure the natural dye stays permanent.
Making the Print Paste:
Create a concentrated dye liquid by boiling plants or using extracts.
Dissolve gum arabic or gum tragacanth in warm water until smooth.
Stir the gum into the dye until it reaches a “honey” consistency.
Application: Apply the paste to dry cotton using wooden blocks, stencils, or freehand painting.
Fixing and Rinsing: Let the pattern dry completely (often for 24+ hours). Steam the fabric to set the color, then rinse in cold water to wash away the gum residue. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9]
Recommended Materials
Gum Arabic: A standard natural binder for water-based inks and paints.
Gum Tragacanth: Often preferred for sharper detail in block printing due to its superior thickening power.
Dyes: Indigo (blue), Madder (red), Turmeric (yellow), and Marigold (yellow/gold) are excellent starters for cotton. [1, 2, 3]
Riverview Arts 