RED LAKE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE
  • Home
  • Heritage Online
    • Puzzles
    • Podcast
    • Online Programming >
      • Bannock
      • Dream Catchers
      • Eco Printing
      • Flower Pounding
      • Fur Trade
      • Mushrooms
      • Pysanky
      • Suncatchers
      • Wild Teas
  • Exhibitions and Events
    • Events
    • Upcoming Exhibits >
      • 100 Years of Red Lake
    • Current Exhibits >
      • NNT
    • Past Exhibits >
      • Hospital History
      • SouthPaw Photography
      • EZHI NAMANG: HOW WE SEE IT
      • Triple K Art
      • Red Lake on the Move
      • Fish Stories
      • Red Lake Art Show >
        • Red Lake Art Show 2016
        • Red Lake Art Show 2017
        • Red Lake Art Show 2018
        • 2023 Art Show
        • 2024 Red Lake Art Show
      • Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      • Fire People >
        • Fire 14-1
        • Fire 14-2
    • Red Lake Speaker Series
  • History
    • On This Spot
    • Red Lake History
    • Aviation History
    • Immigration
    • Residential Schools
    • Heritage Centre History
    • Red Lake District Souvenir Record
  • Gift Shop
    • Accessories >
      • Jewellery
      • Key Holders
      • Purses, Wallets & Bags
    • Local Artists >
      • Rhonda Beckman
      • Valerie Blab
      • Kaila Erb
      • Lauren Furman
      • Patrick Hunter
      • Aaron LeBlanc
      • Amy Newport
      • Hidehiro Otake
      • Mark Nadjiwan
      • Sara Ramer-Dean
      • Rebecca Saikkonen
      • Wendy Yutzy
    • Books & DVDs
    • Cards
    • Clothing >
      • Scarves & Hats
      • T-Shirts
      • Long Sleeves
      • Socks
    • Home & Kitchen >
      • Glassware
      • Home Décor
      • Kitchen
      • Mugs
    • Glass Ornaments
    • Magnets
    • Miscellaneous
    • Norval Morrisseau Designs
  • Support
    • Volunteering
    • Memberships
    • Donor Wall
  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Services
    • Our Mission
    • Collections Policy
    • Newsletter
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Staff & Board
  • Mailing List
  • Mining Map
  • Donate Now
  • Woodland-Art
  • Mural Project Survey Teachers

Eco Printing​ 

Eco Printing is a form of natural dyeing where the colours from plant materials are transferred to paper or fabric via steaming or boiling. Find out more in the slideshow below, then try making your own Eco Print by following the instructions in the slideshow or on this page!
Watch a video of this craft below!
Materials
  • Cotton bag or shirt
  • Winegar
  • Water
  • Pot and bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Assorted leaves and flowers
  • String
  • Scissors
  • Various vegetables (for dyes)
Instructions
Part One: Making the Mordent
A mordent is needed so the dyes will stick to the fabric.
  1. Mix 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water.
  2. Fully submerge fabric and let soak.
  3. Remove from mordent and allow fabric to dry.

Part Two: Making the Eco Dyes
Decide what colours you want to dye your Eco Prints:
  • Red = Beets
  • Yellow = Turmeric
  • Lavender = Red Cabbage
  • Pink = Avocado
  • Fawn = Tea
Picture
1. Skin and quarter beets.
2. Add to water and bring to boil.
3. Simmer for 30 min to 1 hr.
4. Use a strainer to remove plant material from dye.
Picture
1. Add turmeric powder to water and boil.
2. Simmer for 30 min to 1 hr.
Picture
1. Add sliced cabbage to water and boil.
2. Add 3 tbsp salt for every 2 cups.
3. Simmer for 30 min to 1 hr.
4. Use a strainer to remove plant material from dye.
Picture
1. Add 6 bags black tea to 2 L of boiling water.
2. Simmer for 30 min to 1 hr.
Part Three: Making the Bundle
  1. Collect a variety of different leaves, cuttings, and flowers for making the Eco Prints. Think about the colour and placement that you want.
  2. Lay out fabric on a flat surface and arrange the collected foliage as desired.
    1. For a mirror image, arrange foliage on only one side of the cloth, then fold it in half.
  3. Starting at one end, tightly wrap the fabric into a long roll; fold in half and tie with yarn to make a bundle.
    1. For a mirror image, fold the fabric in half first before rolling it.
  4. Place bundles in simmering dye/water baths for 1 hr, or until you achieve the desired colour.
  5. Using tongs, carefully remove the bundles from the dye bath and let them sit for 15 minutes.
  6. Using scissors, carefully cut and unwrap the bundles. Remove the foliage.
  7. Hang to dry. Let rest for a few days before doing a cold water rinse.

Meet the Artist:
India Flint 

Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre
51A Highway 105 P.O. Box 64
Red Lake, ON, Canada
P0V 2M0
807-727-3006
[email protected]
Donate

    Subscribe to the RLRHC newsletter

Submit


The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre is a charitable organization, funded by the Municipality of Red Lake, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, and through fundraising activities. Reg # 87315 2714 RR001.

  • Home
  • Heritage Online
    • Puzzles
    • Podcast
    • Online Programming >
      • Bannock
      • Dream Catchers
      • Eco Printing
      • Flower Pounding
      • Fur Trade
      • Mushrooms
      • Pysanky
      • Suncatchers
      • Wild Teas
  • Exhibitions and Events
    • Events
    • Upcoming Exhibits >
      • 100 Years of Red Lake
    • Current Exhibits >
      • NNT
    • Past Exhibits >
      • Hospital History
      • SouthPaw Photography
      • EZHI NAMANG: HOW WE SEE IT
      • Triple K Art
      • Red Lake on the Move
      • Fish Stories
      • Red Lake Art Show >
        • Red Lake Art Show 2016
        • Red Lake Art Show 2017
        • Red Lake Art Show 2018
        • 2023 Art Show
        • 2024 Red Lake Art Show
      • Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      • Fire People >
        • Fire 14-1
        • Fire 14-2
    • Red Lake Speaker Series
  • History
    • On This Spot
    • Red Lake History
    • Aviation History
    • Immigration
    • Residential Schools
    • Heritage Centre History
    • Red Lake District Souvenir Record
  • Gift Shop
    • Accessories >
      • Jewellery
      • Key Holders
      • Purses, Wallets & Bags
    • Local Artists >
      • Rhonda Beckman
      • Valerie Blab
      • Kaila Erb
      • Lauren Furman
      • Patrick Hunter
      • Aaron LeBlanc
      • Amy Newport
      • Hidehiro Otake
      • Mark Nadjiwan
      • Sara Ramer-Dean
      • Rebecca Saikkonen
      • Wendy Yutzy
    • Books & DVDs
    • Cards
    • Clothing >
      • Scarves & Hats
      • T-Shirts
      • Long Sleeves
      • Socks
    • Home & Kitchen >
      • Glassware
      • Home Décor
      • Kitchen
      • Mugs
    • Glass Ornaments
    • Magnets
    • Miscellaneous
    • Norval Morrisseau Designs
  • Support
    • Volunteering
    • Memberships
    • Donor Wall
  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Services
    • Our Mission
    • Collections Policy
    • Newsletter
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Staff & Board
  • Mailing List
  • Mining Map
  • Donate Now
  • Woodland-Art
  • Mural Project Survey Teachers