Care & Washing Instructions
These handmade items need special care & love. By following a few simple tips, you can extend the life of your garment's vibrant print. Handle it with the tenderness it deserves.
Keep washing to a minimum if possible.
Turn your item inside out to protect the print while hand washing your item, washing machines often have residues of cleaning products that will bleach your image. Use a phosphate-free liquid soap. All-natural soaps like Dr. Bronner’s castile soap, or Ecomax Natural orange laundry wash are safe to use.
Avoid the use of borax, Oxyclean, washing soda, powdered detergent or soaps, baking soda, any form of washing salts, or bleach. The application of these cleaning agents may alter the color and diminish the vibrancy of the print.
Air dry or tumble alone on low heat. Do not dry in direct sunlight.
Overwashing may cause the print to fade. If fading occurs over time, washing the print in a dilute bath of hydrogen peroxide can usually restore it to its original intensity.
Just like a good pair of vintage jeans, natural dye will change over time. I encourage you to embrace the ever-changing shades it brings. Though the colors may shift and blend like a mesmerizing watercolor painting, it's a testament to the living essence of the dye.
Use care while handling cyanotype prints, as sweat and hand oils may also cause discoloration.
History & How it works.
Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. The English scientist and astronomer Sir John Herschel discovered the procedure in 1842. Engineers used the process well into the 20th century as a simple and low-cost process to produce copies of drawings, referred to as blueprints. The process uses two chemicals: ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. When these solutions are combined, they become UV light sensitive. Prints can be made from large format negatives and lithography film, digital negative or everyday objects can be used to make photograms. After UV exposure, developing of the picture involves the yellow unreacted solution being rinsed off with running water.
Cyanotype on fabric.
Cyanotype is a very versatile process as prints can be made on more than just paper. I started experimenting with cyanotype on fabric this year and quickly fell in love with the results. I love the contrast of the print and the way the moves and flows with the garment. The process to making a print on fabric is similar to that on paper. I paint on the solution or soak the garment in it completely. Once dry, I overlay the digital negative or objects like flowers and leaves and expose in the sun. Lastly, a quick wash and dry and its ready to wear! This process can end up taking multiple days because the drying and exposure times are much longer than on paper.