Whole Cloth: Cochineal

Title

Whole Cloth: Cochineal

Date

2021

Dimensions

31” x 53”

Media

Handwoven textile utilizing wool yarns. The fabric incorporates woven shibori resist. Dyed with cochineal.

Cochineal is a natural dye with very distinct and unique qualities. The dye itself is an acid
It can be used to dye protein fibers without the use of a mordant. It also responds very distinctly the use of acids and mordants, including, alum, iron and tin.

This series uses cochineal dye applied to seven woven wool panels. Some of those panels have no pre-mordant and others have been mordanted with alum or tin. They have all been dyed with cochineal at a strength of 15% weight of fiber. Some of the baths include an acid in the dyebath. Iron was used as a post-mordant on selected panels.

1. Alum pre-mordant, no addition to dyebath or post treatment
2. Alum pre-mordant, Citric acid added to dyebath
3. Alum pre-mordant, iron post-dye treatment
4. No pre-mordant, tin and acid added to dyebath
5. No pre-mordant, citric acid added to dyebath
6. Alum pre-mordant, iron post-dye treatment
7. Tin (Stannous chloride) pre-mordant, no addition to dyebath or post treatment