Hi there! No need to store your iron water in the fridge. I just keep it in my garage which is a cooler, darker place and out of the way. When I made this batch, it was ready to use in about 3 weeks, but that can vary depending on many things. Just keep an eye out on it, shake it from time to time, and when it turns that lovely orange color, it is ready to use🤎
While iron water mixed with a tannin rich dye source like black walnut will make dark browns, I personally would not use iron in my hair. I've never used natural color for hair dye, but perhaps you can find other options on the internet for this. Best of luck!
What happens if you use more vinegar? Have you tried varying the proportions? I assume the acid in the vinegar is whats causing the iron to rust more? and the rust water is whats helping with the color shifts? or am I completely mistaken. Can this be added to henna or to english walnut dye to dye hair?
I've only used this ratio of vinegar & water, but you certainly could play with the ratio to experiment. Yes, the acid of the vinegar is what causes the corrosion of the metal to help create the rust. You can also experiment with adding salt as an electrolyte to hasten the process. The color shifting that happens is a reaction between the iron and the tannins of the dye matter. I've never dyed hair, but personally, I wouldn't want to add iron water to my own hair as it can be quite harsh.
I’m looking for natural ways to cover Grey in my hair. We have black walnuts on my property. Looking to learn if black walnut hill dye will do this. I don’t think iron water from rusty nails is something I should probably add to the process.
Hi Tina - I've never tried to dye hair, but why not give black walnut a try especially if you have them on your property. Like most natural dyes, building up color is often best achieved with multiple applications. You definitely do NOT want to use iron water in your hair - good call 😊 Henna is a natural plant dye as well, so maybe that is something to consider as an alternative 🤎
I just discovered your channel while looking for a natural green dye. I saw your spinach video and will be experimenting tonight, along with the red cabbage ph shift. I love your channel! Very informative and easy to understand. This iron water video is fascinating. I can't wait to raid my husband's tool box!
Thank you so much for all of your kind words, Cris! It makes me super happy to hear that the tutorials are clear and easy to follow. Hope you enjoy your dye session and get some fabulous natural colors! Go find those rusty nails 😉
If you keep your iron solution in a well-sealed container and store it in a cool, dry place, it can last a very long time. I had this batch for almost 4 years and I used it as 'seed' for newer batches.
This is literally the video i have been searching for for the past weeks. Also all of you videos are so well explained! Just wanted to ask also if we can do this with nails that aren't rusty? Also is there a nails to water ratio? Thank you again!
How wonderful to hear, Anabelle - I'm thrilled you found it helpful! All nails will eventually rust, especially when exposed to water, but if you don't have access to those now, I would recommend nails that are not galvanized (zinc alloy coating) to make the rusting process faster. There is no specific ratio of rusty metal to water, but having a handful should do the trick. You can also use any other piece of iron scrap you may find, so keep your eyes open when you are out and about. Best of luck!
It is recommended to use glass because it is non-reactive. If you only have plastic available, it is possible this will work too. I have never tried it, so I can not say if it will cause a problem, but I suspect not.
Hiya! You are correct - I had a box of old rusty nails I found in my garage for this video. You can create rusty nails with a vinegar & hydrogen peroxide recipe that you can find on the internet. Alternatively, keep your eye out for any rusty piece of metal you might find out and about in your neighborhood, or in a thrift or swap meet type location. Once you are looking, you might be surprised how much rusty metal is out there 😉
Although vinegar is used as a pH modifer in the acidic realm (if a dye is pH sensitive), it is very different that the shifts you have with iron or rust water. This reaction is between the iron & tannin of the natural dye sources and creates a 'saddening' of the color.
I have never tried iron shifting black tea, but it is worth a try. You may get a darker brown or gray and it could differ based on the type of fiber you use. The more tannin in the dye matter, the darker gray to black you can typically achieve. Black is often created using an iron shift on tannin rich 'seed pods' like oak galls, acorns, black walnut hulls, acacia seeds, etc. You can often get darker hues with protein fibers too, so if you have a choice to use silk/wool, try those. Let me know how it goes 😊
My iron water is also quite muddy now, but I've still used it. I always strain out the metal debris and try not to shake it up before I use it. I did create a separate jar of diluted iron water without the nails so I could have a 'cleaner' supply with less debris and that batch has stayed orange without a muddy appearance. I'm planning on refreshing my original jar soon by starting with new water/vinegar with the same rusty nails to minimize the 'mud'.
You are most welcome! I use my iron water all the time, so I love having it ready to go and avoid using ferrous sulfate powder. Super interested in trying an iron blanket too, so let me know how your resist project goes 😊
You are most welcome! I use my iron water all the time, so I love having it ready to go and avoid using ferrous sulfate powder. Super interested in trying an iron blanket too, so let me know how your resist project goes 😊
Any vinegar should cause the same reaction with the iron metal, but it may take longer to happen because apple cider vinegar is not as strong as white distilled vinegar. You should definitely try it 🙂
Your voice and your naturally beautiful persona is mesmerizing...you have an attractive voice which attracts... Thank you so much for this intresting video i was wanting to watch because i am taking up lessons on my own to dye with natural forms 🙏. Best wishes from India Bangalore. God bless you
Thank you for your very kind words, Padma 💚 I think I'm blushing a bit 😉 So wonderful that you've joined us here on Color Quest as you start your natural color journey. You are going to love all of the magic you find as you explore!
Hi thank you for this wonderful channel .. I am loving it. I have a question I would like to dye cotton for quilting. Specifically botanical dying with leaves. Will the pickling alum be sufficient to hold the color through washings? One again thank you for your wonderful channel
You are very welcome, Eileen - welcome to Color Quest! The best mordant option for cotton is typically aluminum acetate, so if you can pre-treat with this, you might see a longer lasting result. If you intend to do something with leaves AND iron, however, the iron will act as a wonderful mordant option too.
Hey there Margaret, Vinicius from Brazil again. We've been making lots of tests using lots of materials, but we ain't got your experience. We're able to make cooper water, but my mother doesn't like to work in a scientific way, so its hard to comapare the results. There are some ways to make this cooper water: Cooper Sulfate (bought as a fertilizer) / Cooper and acid in water / Eletrolisis using cooper wire in salty water (I used an old laptop power supply). I really would you like to see you making some experiments with that, as there are none in YT. Best regards from the other side of the world. I'd like to put you and my mother in touch so you could share experiences. Do you have instagram or any kind of contact??
Hi Vinicius! Great to see you here again 😊 I've been interested in making copper water, so I will test that out and consider making a video about it. Copper can be quite toxic, so I'm sure that is why there is not much information out there on it. Of course, you can buy copper sulfate, but you must be very careful about airborne particulates, so making a solution with vinegar seems safer. If you are looking to simply shift color, you can always add copper pipe or pennies to your dye pot or invest in a copper dye pot, but that would be a more subtle change. You can find all of my social media links and email contact details in the About Section of my channel and in the description section of every video. Would love to connect with you mom!
There are several flowers that are popular in the natural dyer's world because they are more color/light fast: coreopsis, marigold, weld, safflower & pericon are flowers you may want to try. Remember to prepare your textile with a mordant to help with the bond of the dye matter to the fiber. Happy dyeing!
@@aryamr7703 Have you seen my video here on rose petal bundle dyeing? Rose petals will change color over time, but the effect is so beautiful no matter what shade the color chooses to share. Enjoy 🌹
Am loving your videos!! You're an absolutely amazing teacher, thank you so much. Is it better to dye the fabric a few days before doing an iron shift? Or should I try to do it all on the same day? Btw have you tried dyeing with camellia flowers? Because I got a lovely and delicate baby pink from wilted red camellias. Highly recommend!
How very sweet of you to say - thank you! You can truly use iron water at any stage of the dye process or wait to do it at a later time. If you wait, just remember to always wet your textile again with water first before submerging it in the iron water. You can add dyed textile to iron water like I did in this video, or even add iron water directly to the dye pot to shift the color of the dye itself. Depending on how long you keep the textile in the iron bath can also make a difference in the final color you get, so experiment with that too. You typically don't need much time in the iron water to make a difference at it can be tough on certain textiles. I have not yet tried camellia flowers as I was waiting for them to bloom in my area to see if I could forage for them. I've heard they make a wonderful color, so happy that you loved the result 💕
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest Thank you so much, especially for the word of caution. I'll definitely use the iron water with a light touch and only gradually increase it. We're about at the end of the camellia blooming season in my neighborhood (though the rhodies are in full swing!), but I got enough fallen flowers from one tree to dye a handful of pillowcases. I experimented with lilac dye too and was not a fan of how the lilac smelled while simmering, but oh my gosh the camellias made the whole house smell amazing. Thank you so much for all your awesome videos! You inspire me to experiment and create, and you have the nicest vibe!!
@@quailypoes Fantastic that you collected enough camellia to dye pillowcases. I bet they are very pretty 💕 I've been in CA this spring, so missed some of the PNW blooms this year. Heading north this week, so will see if I can still find some when I get back. I brewed eucalyptus while here and that smelled divine as well! Love to hear that my channel is inspiring you to explore more with natural color. Keep sharing your finds and thank you for your kind words 😊
Fantastic! Love to share tidbits 🤎 What beauty are you making with cochineal? Will be filming some videos this summer all about the magical little bug!
Hello,
I have a question, iron water 3 weeks store in frizz???
Hi there! No need to store your iron water in the fridge. I just keep it in my garage which is a cooler, darker place and out of the way. When I made this batch, it was ready to use in about 3 weeks, but that can vary depending on many things. Just keep an eye out on it, shake it from time to time, and when it turns that lovely orange color, it is ready to use🤎
Can one use iron water with black walnut hull powder to make black or dark/medium brown hair dye?
While iron water mixed with a tannin rich dye source like black walnut will make dark browns, I personally would not use iron in my hair. I've never used natural color for hair dye, but perhaps you can find other options on the internet for this. Best of luck!
What happens if you use more vinegar? Have you tried varying the proportions? I assume the acid in the vinegar is whats causing the iron to rust more? and the rust water is whats helping with the color shifts? or am I completely mistaken. Can this be added to henna or to english walnut dye to dye hair?
I've only used this ratio of vinegar & water, but you certainly could play with the ratio to experiment. Yes, the acid of the vinegar is what causes the corrosion of the metal to help create the rust. You can also experiment with adding salt as an electrolyte to hasten the process. The color shifting that happens is a reaction between the iron and the tannins of the dye matter.
I've never dyed hair, but personally, I wouldn't want to add iron water to my own hair as it can be quite harsh.
Покупаешь железный купорос и смешиваешь с водой, вот тебе и железная вода.
Да, вы правы, но это способ сделать его с нуля в домашних условиях 😊
I’m looking for natural ways to cover Grey in my hair. We have black walnuts on my property. Looking to learn if black walnut hill dye will do this. I don’t think iron water from rusty nails is something I should probably add to the process.
Hi Tina - I've never tried to dye hair, but why not give black walnut a try especially if you have them on your property. Like most natural dyes, building up color is often best achieved with multiple applications. You definitely do NOT want to use iron water in your hair - good call 😊 Henna is a natural plant dye as well, so maybe that is something to consider as an alternative 🤎
I just discovered your channel while looking for a natural green dye. I saw your spinach video and will be experimenting tonight, along with the red cabbage ph shift. I love your channel! Very informative and easy to understand. This iron water video is fascinating. I can't wait to raid my husband's tool box!
Thank you so much for all of your kind words, Cris! It makes me super happy to hear that the tutorials are clear and easy to follow. Hope you enjoy your dye session and get some fabulous natural colors! Go find those rusty nails 😉
Can the iron solution spoil
If you keep your iron solution in a well-sealed container and store it in a cool, dry place, it can last a very long time. I had this batch for almost 4 years and I used it as 'seed' for newer batches.
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest wow thank you
This is literally the video i have been searching for for the past weeks. Also all of you videos are so well explained! Just wanted to ask also if we can do this with nails that aren't rusty? Also is there a nails to water ratio? Thank you again!
How wonderful to hear, Anabelle - I'm thrilled you found it helpful! All nails will eventually rust, especially when exposed to water, but if you don't have access to those now, I would recommend nails that are not galvanized (zinc alloy coating) to make the rusting process faster. There is no specific ratio of rusty metal to water, but having a handful should do the trick. You can also use any other piece of iron scrap you may find, so keep your eyes open when you are out and about. Best of luck!
Compulsory needed "glass bottle" in this process..?
It is recommended to use glass because it is non-reactive. If you only have plastic available, it is possible this will work too. I have never tried it, so I can not say if it will cause a problem, but I suspect not.
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest Thanks for your Replies...!
@@அருண்பிரசாத்-ய5வ You are most welcome!
Can I drink this water
Absolutely not - this iron water is only to be used for natural dyeing projects and should be handled carefully as it can be irritating to the skin.
Hi iam wondering how and where you get rusty nails from it looks like you started euthanasia box of rusty nails!?
Hiya! You are correct - I had a box of old rusty nails I found in my garage for this video. You can create rusty nails with a vinegar & hydrogen peroxide recipe that you can find on the internet. Alternatively, keep your eye out for any rusty piece of metal you might find out and about in your neighborhood, or in a thrift or swap meet type location. Once you are looking, you might be surprised how much rusty metal is out there 😉
Would using just vinegar cause similar color shifts?
Although vinegar is used as a pH modifer in the acidic realm (if a dye is pH sensitive), it is very different that the shifts you have with iron or rust water. This reaction is between the iron & tannin of the natural dye sources and creates a 'saddening' of the color.
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest Thanks! I knew you'd know. 😊👍
@@EricAlder Happy to help!
Can I achieve a black with a fabric that has been dyed with black tea ( iron water shift).
I have never tried iron shifting black tea, but it is worth a try. You may get a darker brown or gray and it could differ based on the type of fiber you use. The more tannin in the dye matter, the darker gray to black you can typically achieve. Black is often created using an iron shift on tannin rich 'seed pods' like oak galls, acorns, black walnut hulls, acacia seeds, etc. You can often get darker hues with protein fibers too, so if you have a choice to use silk/wool, try those. Let me know how it goes 😊
Compulsory needed "glass bottle" in this process..?
Please see my previous comment 🙂
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest ok.
Background music 😭
I know - it's tough to find free, royalty-free music 😉
What if you leave it sit longer and it turns muddy? Do you need to strain it and it’s good?
My iron water is also quite muddy now, but I've still used it. I always strain out the metal debris and try not to shake it up before I use it. I did create a separate jar of diluted iron water without the nails so I could have a 'cleaner' supply with less debris and that batch has stayed orange without a muddy appearance. I'm planning on refreshing my original jar soon by starting with new water/vinegar with the same rusty nails to minimize the 'mud'.
I think I should try my iron blanket resist dyeing project! Tq for the recepie! My rust water is on progress 🥰
You are most welcome! I use my iron water all the time, so I love having it ready to go and avoid using ferrous sulfate powder. Super interested in trying an iron blanket too, so let me know how your resist project goes 😊
You are most welcome! I use my iron water all the time, so I love having it ready to go and avoid using ferrous sulfate powder. Super interested in trying an iron blanket too, so let me know how your resist project goes 😊
Can we use apple cider vinegar instead?
Any vinegar should cause the same reaction with the iron metal, but it may take longer to happen because apple cider vinegar is not as strong as white distilled vinegar. You should definitely try it 🙂
Your voice and your naturally beautiful persona is mesmerizing...you have an attractive voice which attracts...
Thank you so much for this intresting video i was wanting to watch because i am taking up lessons on my own to dye with natural forms 🙏.
Best wishes from India Bangalore.
God bless you
Thank you for your very kind words, Padma 💚 I think I'm blushing a bit 😉 So wonderful that you've joined us here on Color Quest as you start your natural color journey. You are going to love all of the magic you find as you explore!
Hi thank you for this wonderful channel .. I am loving it. I have a question I would like to dye cotton for quilting. Specifically botanical dying with leaves. Will the pickling alum be sufficient to hold the color through washings?
One again thank you for your wonderful channel
You are very welcome, Eileen - welcome to Color Quest! The best mordant option for cotton is typically aluminum acetate, so if you can pre-treat with this, you might see a longer lasting result. If you intend to do something with leaves AND iron, however, the iron will act as a wonderful mordant option too.
Tkank you so much!!!!!!
You are most welcome!!
Hey there Margaret, Vinicius from Brazil again. We've been making lots of tests using lots of materials, but we ain't got your experience. We're able to make cooper water, but my mother doesn't like to work in a scientific way, so its hard to comapare the results. There are some ways to make this cooper water: Cooper Sulfate (bought as a fertilizer) / Cooper and acid in water / Eletrolisis using cooper wire in salty water (I used an old laptop power supply). I really would you like to see you making some experiments with that, as there are none in YT. Best regards from the other side of the world. I'd like to put you and my mother in touch so you could share experiences. Do you have instagram or any kind of contact??
Hi Vinicius! Great to see you here again 😊 I've been interested in making copper water, so I will test that out and consider making a video about it. Copper can be quite toxic, so I'm sure that is why there is not much information out there on it. Of course, you can buy copper sulfate, but you must be very careful about airborne particulates, so making a solution with vinegar seems safer. If you are looking to simply shift color, you can always add copper pipe or pennies to your dye pot or invest in a copper dye pot, but that would be a more subtle change. You can find all of my social media links and email contact details in the About Section of my channel and in the description section of every video. Would love to connect with you mom!
Suggestion for more flowers with more colorfastness
There are several flowers that are popular in the natural dyer's world because they are more color/light fast: coreopsis, marigold, weld, safflower & pericon are flowers you may want to try. Remember to prepare your textile with a mordant to help with the bond of the dye matter to the fiber. Happy dyeing!
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest thank you so much❣️
I really want to Know about bundle dye with rose petals. Is it is good
@@aryamr7703 Have you seen my video here on rose petal bundle dyeing? Rose petals will change color over time, but the effect is so beautiful no matter what shade the color chooses to share. Enjoy 🌹
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest thank you so much.
@@aryamr7703 My pleasure!
Well...I'm your ' fã"( let's ask Google the tradution to english). Love the video.
Você é muito doce! Feliz que você gostou do vídeo :)
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest yeeesssss!
Totally cool❤ thanks very much
You are most welcome 🤎
Thankyou for sharing
You bet! Thanks for stopping by Color Quest 🤎
👍👍👍💕💕💕🇩🇰
Thank you for all the fun emojis - happy you liked the video!
Am loving your videos!! You're an absolutely amazing teacher, thank you so much.
Is it better to dye the fabric a few days before doing an iron shift? Or should I try to do it all on the same day?
Btw have you tried dyeing with camellia flowers? Because I got a lovely and delicate baby pink from wilted red camellias. Highly recommend!
How very sweet of you to say - thank you! You can truly use iron water at any stage of the dye process or wait to do it at a later time. If you wait, just remember to always wet your textile again with water first before submerging it in the iron water. You can add dyed textile to iron water like I did in this video, or even add iron water directly to the dye pot to shift the color of the dye itself. Depending on how long you keep the textile in the iron bath can also make a difference in the final color you get, so experiment with that too. You typically don't need much time in the iron water to make a difference at it can be tough on certain textiles.
I have not yet tried camellia flowers as I was waiting for them to bloom in my area to see if I could forage for them. I've heard they make a wonderful color, so happy that you loved the result 💕
@@MargaretByrdColorQuest Thank you so much, especially for the word of caution. I'll definitely use the iron water with a light touch and only gradually increase it.
We're about at the end of the camellia blooming season in my neighborhood (though the rhodies are in full swing!), but I got enough fallen flowers from one tree to dye a handful of pillowcases. I experimented with lilac dye too and was not a fan of how the lilac smelled while simmering, but oh my gosh the camellias made the whole house smell amazing.
Thank you so much for all your awesome videos! You inspire me to experiment and create, and you have the nicest vibe!!
@@quailypoes Fantastic that you collected enough camellia to dye pillowcases. I bet they are very pretty 💕 I've been in CA this spring, so missed some of the PNW blooms this year. Heading north this week, so will see if I can still find some when I get back. I brewed eucalyptus while here and that smelled divine as well!
Love to hear that my channel is inspiring you to explore more with natural color. Keep sharing your finds and thank you for your kind words 😊
absolutely fabulous thank you
Most excellent to hear - enjoy making that rusty water 🤎
Thank you so much!!!
You are very welcome, Diann!
I like your chanel!
Thank you, Lisa! I'm so happy you are enjoying the videos on natural color 💚
❤⚘
🌼💛🌼
Nice😊😊👍
Many thanks!
Wow
Happy you are wowed, Rozi!
Beautiful treasure this information is as I love 7000 ft up and VERY rural. I needed this info to complete my Cochineal project. THANK YOU!!
Fantastic! Love to share tidbits 🤎 What beauty are you making with cochineal? Will be filming some videos this summer all about the magical little bug!
Thank you!
You are most welcome!