One of the summer pleasures is gathering flowers and grasses to make
wonderful dried arrangements. The only drawback is that the original
colors fade and the floral arrangements can end up looking a bunch of
straw. The summer memories can be kept alive by dyeing dried flowers and
grasses with some of the vibrant colors available.
Dyes are organic compounds, which absorb light of certain frequencies,
thus only reflecting a portion of the visible spectrum with the result
that the eye sees color. Each pure dye compound therefore has a unique
color. The vast number of different colors available is the result of
blending pure dyestuffs.
There are several classes of dyes, which can stain plant material. Food
dyes are widely used for this purpose. Although relatively safe to
handle, food dyes are rarely lightfast and are only available in a
limited range of color. They are more expensive than other dyes because
of the rigorous and costly toxicity testing required for food additives.
There are different types of dyes that are used to dye dried florals and
make them mpre beautiful.
Method of Dyeing Flowers
- One needs a dye bath, rubber gloves, glass jug, a stirring
utensil, and paper towels.
- Wear paper gloves, pierce dye tin and dissolve dye in prime
quantity of hot water.
- Fill dye bath with very hot water and dissolved dye.
- The quantity of dye needed depends on the depth of color
required.
- Wet dried flowers or grasses completely and submerge in dye bath.
- Remove dried flowers from solution once the desired color is
achieved.
- Rinse carefully and allow them to dry by laying them on paper
towels.
- During drying process, tap dried flowers or grasses gently to
separate.
Dyeing Flowers Tips
Dyeing is done in hot water dye bath because the surface of most plant
fibers is covered with a thin layer of wax called the cuticle.
Penetrating this layer is difficult at cold or warm temperatures. Heat
breaks down the wax surface and also swells plant fibers allowing for
uniform dye migration within the substrate.
Dyes are sold in concentrated powder form. The color of dyed flower
depends upon the base color of the material as well as how much dye is
taken up by the fiber. This is termed depth of shade. Depth of shade is
usually expressed as the amount of dye applied to goods computed as a
percentage on weight of the goods.
