How to make a soy milk mordant

It’s always a good idea to mordant cellulose (plant) fibres before dyeing with them; this will allow the dye to adhere to the fibre. Soy milk is a great option for this; it’s inexpensive, easy to make, and is a good mineral-free alternative to prepare your fibre.

Get started with this easy, 6-step guide; it makes 3 litres of mordant. Already got your supplies? Skip to the method here.

Required supplies

  • 500 ml of soy milk *

  • 2.5 litres of tap water

  • 1 x large cooking pot, or bucket

  • 1 x measuring jug

  • 1 x pair of tongs

  • Washing machine

* Either store-bought or homemade soy milk is suitable. This guide uses store-bought, but if you’re feeling adventurous you can make your own; be warned though, it is quite tedious.

Supplies to make a soy milk mordant

Method

  1. Add 500 ml of soy milk to the cooking pot or bucket, followed by 2.5 litres of tap water; making a mordant solution at a ratio of 1:5

  2. Use tap water to dampen the fabric, then add it to the mordant and gently swish it around with the tongs *

  3. Leave in a cool place to soak for at least 24 hours; if soaking for longer, store it in the fridge to prolong its life by a day or two

  4. After 24 hours of soaking, use the tongs to remove the fabric and put it in the washing machine for a quick spin cycle

  5. Remove the fabric from the washing machine and hang it on a clothes line or drying rack to cure for about 1 week

* For best results, scour your fabric before adding it to the mordant to remove oils, waxes and any other impurities. Also ensure you’ve made enough mordant for it to move around freely; this will allow the mordant to spread evenly.

Once the fabric is cured, you can add it to a dye bath or store it for later use. As the curing process takes a week, it’s recommended to mordant as much fabric as you can, to reduce waste and save time for future projects. Dispose of the mordant responsibly; in the garden if possible.

Soy milk mordant

Summary

There you have it, a mineral-free mordant made from soy milk in 5 easy steps. It’s inexpensive, quick to make, and produces good results for cellulose (plant) fibres.

You’re now ready to create a dye bath; check out this beginner tutorial for dyeing with avocados. With only a few more steps than the soy milk mordant, it’s just as easy. You can even freeze some avocado skins and stones if you’re not quite ready to start the dye bath.

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Thanks for reading!

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Beginner's guide to dyeing with avocados

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What are mordants?