Ahimsa silk - previously bundle dyed with bright pinks and lilacs of clematis and bougainvilea, produced only a weak colour result, so a new arrangement of flowers was done, but including Hesperantha Coccinea Major (scarlet lilies) and Coreopsis.
Hesperantha Coccinea Major, Heliotrope, Coreopsis, Cotinus leaf (Smoke Bush) and Dahlia. Flowers laid on one half of silk length only, allowing for folding over during steam. Two sided result provides two side shapes for a garment.
Scarlet lilies make violet blue!
Of the various petals for second attempt, Hesperantha and Heliotrope are successful; giving a good violet blue, adding firm flower shapes to the previously weak prints. Indoor light after steaming.
More importantly this was steamed only for 20-30 mins. Other petals; dahlia and bougainvillea made no print.
Mirrored Pattern - Ahimsa Silk
Flowers arranged on only half of length, to produce mirrored pattern of imprints. One half folded over, then clingfilm wrapped, before tying to stick for steaming. Wrapped fairly tight, but not strenuously, pushing fabric flat around before wrapping with string or cord. Initially use rubber bands to hold in place, prior to string wrapping.
Background silk shows previous steaming with pink and lilac petals, as blurs, which were oversteamed. Cotinus leaves work well, but paler than Hesperantha lilies. Some Heliotrope also turned blue-violet. Silks with failed steaming can always be oversteamed again with better performing flowers.
Ready for a garment
Dried length folded - Hesperantha lilies, Scarlet to Blue prints.
Will be used in a kimono front; one piece each of mirrored prints each side.
More design details can be added by hand overpainted, dependant on other fabric prints inspiration used in the garment.
MORE HESPERANTHA STEAM PRINTS on pre dyed silks
With a number of previously gold dyed silks; some steam prints over were weak and so the next step is to OVERPRINT to create more interesting designs. Strength of Hesperantha pigment allows for a purple print on existing dyed silk which is influenced by tannin. Clamps used to see if they make the prints firmer, by excluding some steam. Flower prints were good, regardless. Small purple flowers are salvia prints and along with other print marks are from a previous steam.
