Iron water, a simple mixture involving iron objects, water, and vinegar, offers a straightforward yet impactful method to modify the hues of your naturally dyed materials.
This guide will walk you through the process, from making your own iron water and applying it to your dyed materials to safe disposal.
Making iron water: A step-by-step guide
Materials needed
- Mason jar: A container to mix and store the iron water. It can be any size, but ensure it can hold enough water for your dyeing projects. The jar will contain the water, vinegar, and iron objects, allowing the iron to infuse into the water over time. We suggest using a plastic jar lid rather than a metal one as our metal lid eroded and got stuck closed.
- White vinegar: The acid that helps extract iron from the objects, creating a potent iron water mixture. The acidity of white vinegar is crucial for ensuring that iron is effectively released into the water.
- Iron objects: Items like rusty nails or screws that will release iron into the mixture. Ensure the objects are genuinely made of iron – visible rust is a dead giveaway. These objects will be soaked in the vinegar-water mixture.
- Water: Regular tap water will suffice, acting as the base liquid for the iron water. It works in conjunction with the vinegar to extract iron from the objects.
- Rubber Gloves: Essential for safe handling of iron water to protect your hands from potential irritation and prevent staining.
- Mask: To protect against inhaling particles or fumes during mixing or pouring iron water.
Process of making iron water
Step 1: Gather your materials
Before you begin, have all the necessary materials at hand. Having everything ready will make the process smooth and efficient.
Step 2: Prepare the mason jar (or container)
The size of the jar will depend on how much iron water you wish to make, so choose a jar that suits your dyeing project’s size.
Step 3: Add iron objects
Place your iron objects into the mason jar. These can be iron nails, screws, or any other iron items. Ensure the objects are free of dirt and grease to avoid introducing unwanted elements into the iron water.
Step 4: Mix water and vinegar
Create a mixture of water and white vinegar. The typical ratio used is 1:1, meaning you should use equal parts of water and vinegar. The vinegar’s acidity will help extract the iron from the objects, creating a potent iron water solution.
Step 5: Pour the mixture into the jar
Carefully pour the water-vinegar mixture into the mason jar, ensuring the iron objects are fully submerged.
Step 6: Seal and store
Tightly seal the mason jar and store it in a cool, dark place. Allow the mixture to sit for several weeks. During this time, the iron will infuse into the water-vinegar mixture.
Step 7: Check the potency
After a few weeks, check the potency of your iron water by testing it on a small piece of dyed fabric or yarn. If the color changes to a darker or different shade, your iron water is ready to use. If not, allow it to sit for a while longer.
Step 8: Strain and store
Once your iron water has reached the desired potency, strain it to remove the iron objects and any particles. Store the iron water in a clean jar or container for future use in your dyeing projects.
Step 9: Safe handling and storage
Always wear rubber gloves and a mask when handling iron water to protect your skin and lungs. Store the iron water in a safe place, away from children and pets, and clearly label the container.
Applying iron water to natural dyes
Now for the fun part!
Preparing the yarn
When it comes to preparing yarn for the transformation, starting with a well-dyed base is key.
In my video, I used a skein of wool yarn, pre-dyed with acorns, as the canvas for the iron water’s effects.
Begin by thoroughly wetting your yarn to ensure even uptake of the iron water.
It’s crucial to immerse the yarn in water and allow sufficient time to soak, ensuring the fibers are fully saturated. This can be as little as thirty minutes and as long as a few hours.
You want the yarn to absorb the iron solution uniformly, providing a consistent and even color alteration across the entire skein.
Add a 1/2 teaspoon of the iron water to a water bath and stir in thoroughly to allow the iron solution to evenly disperse. Add the yarn to the bath and watch the transformation. You can also do a partial submersion where some of the yarn stays out of the water to achieve a two-tone effect like in the above video.
Remember to gently handle the wet yarn to prevent felting and ensure the fibers maintain their integrity throughout the dyeing process.
When working with wool yarns do not leave the yarn in the iron water for more than 30 seconds and only add 1/2 teaspoon for each eight ounces of fiber. The iron water can start to degrade the quality of the wool fiber.
For cotton and other plant fibers, you can add more than the. 1/2 teaspoon amount of iron water to the soaking bath and leave the yarn in for more time to see a more dramatic shift. It should not take more than three minutes to see results.
Demonstrating the color change
The application of iron water to naturally dyed yarn is a fascinating transformation.
In the case of my acorn-dyed yarn, the initial color presents a warm, earthy tan.
With the introduction of iron water, a metamorphosis occurs. The yarn gradually absorbs the iron, and the tan brown begins to deepen, slowly shifting towards a rich, dark gray, almost black shade.
The contrast between the original and altered color is stark, providing dyers with a versatile palette from a single natural dye and opening up myriad shades that can be achieved and explored with simple, natural ingredients.
Practical tips and additional uses of iron water
Exhausting the iron water bath
Maximizing the use of iron water is economical and good for the environment.
The concept of “exhausting” the iron water bath revolves around utilizing the mixture to its fullest potential, ensuring that as much of the iron is used up in the dyeing process before disposal.
To efficiently exhaust the iron water bath, consider the following methods and tips:
- Multiple dye batches: Use the same iron water for several batches of yarn or fabric until the solution is exhausted, meaning it no longer induces a color change in the dyed materials. This ensures that you extract as much of the iron from the water as possible.
- Monitoring color changes: Keep a close eye on the color changes in your materials. As the iron water is used, the intensity of the color change may reduce, signaling that the bath is nearing exhaustion.
- Reusing iron objects: Don’t discard the iron objects after creating your first batch of iron water. These can often be reused to create additional batches.
- Recording observations: Keep notes on the color changes and the number of uses from each iron water bath. This data can be valuable for future dyeing projects, helping you to predict outcomes and plan accordingly.
Disposal of iron water
Ensuring safe and environmentally responsible disposal of iron water is crucial in maintaining sustainable practices in natural dyeing.
- Avoid direct disposal: Do not dispose of used iron water directly into the soil, garden, or water bodies, as the iron concentration might adversely affect plants and aquatic life.
- Use a neutralizing agent: Before disposal, consider neutralizing the acidity of the iron water by adding a base, such as baking soda, until the pH level is neutral (around pH 7).
- Reuse or repurpose: As suggested above, explore ways to reuse the iron water for other batches of dyeing until it is fully exhausted. This minimizes waste and maximizes utility.
- Sedimentation method: Allow the iron particles to settle at the bottom of the container, then carefully pour off the clean(er) water at the top. The settled iron particles can be disposed of as solid waste – aka garbage.
Storing iron water
If you want to keep a batch of iron water around for spontaneous dye projects…
- Use appropriate containers: Store iron water in non-reactive containers, such as glass or plastic, to prevent any unwanted chemical reactions. Again, using a plastic lid for storage is preferable.
- Label clearly: Always label the container clearly with “Iron Water” and include any additional details, such as the date of preparation. This ensures that you and others know exactly what’s inside, preventing any mix-ups or accidental misuse.
- Store in a cool, dark place: Keep the iron water in a cool, dark place, like a cupboard or a storage room, to preserve its potency and prevent any potential degradation from light exposure.
- Keep away from children and pets: Ensure that the stored iron water is out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental ingestion or spillage.
- Seal tightly: A sealed container prevents evaporation, contamination, and any accidental spills.
- Avoid metal containers: Do not store iron water in metal containers, as the iron can react with other metals, potentially altering its properties and effectiveness.
- Monitor for changes: Periodically check the stored iron water for any changes in color, smell, or consistency, which might indicate contamination or degradation.
Explore the rich and varied hues that nature, combined with the transformative power of iron water, can create in your textiles.
Dive deeper into this colorful world by watching the video I linked above, and unlock new options in your dyeing endeavors.