I Feel Rusty

These photos show our fabric rusting process. Living in Arizona, we are blessed with sunshine almost every single day and early March days is no exception. Today, we are going to rust fabric and paper by soaking them in homemade (should I say handmade?) rusty water and old tools and materials. We started by soaking white PFD (prepared for dyeing) muslin from our local craft store in a water/vinegar solution. We used whatever vinegar we had, both white and cider, though we have read that white is preferred. Then we wrapped the fabric in old rusty tools, nails/bolts/screws, wind chimes, whatever we could find and left the objects out in the sun to dry. We observed color changes within 3 hours, but left the fabrics out to dry for a total of six days and nights. The pieces were sprayed every few hours with the vinegar/water solution so that they were kept moist. They were loosely covered in plastic sheeting but allowed to breathe the fresh outside air.

Things we learned:

• We loved the process and eagerly awaited the results from the very beginning. Exciting!!
• Having plastic grocery bags and paper towels on hand is very beneficial. 
• Being outside within steps of a water source is quite helpful. We used a garden hose.
• Presoaking the fabric in a vinegar/water solution speeds up the process.  
• Definitely wear old clothes, gloves and an apron. 
• Kosher salt has larger granules than table salt and it can be recycled (brushed off into a plastic container and used over again the next time you rust). 
• Don't be shy about the amount of salt used, (shake or clump--don't sprinkle). 
• It helps to keep the fabric moistened and to let it breathe rather having the fabrics tightly covered and kept from the air. Fresh air is good. Oxygen is necessary for the process.
• Good ventilation is important because we could taste the rust--remember we were outside, thankfully. We highly recommend rusting on a calm, not breezy day. And wear gloves, my manicurist will not  be happy with me.
• Strain your left over rust/water solution through coffee filters when you are finished to capture the residual rust dust (powder) for your next rust experience. Believe me, you'll have another. Like potato chips.
• Be prepared--this process is very addictive, you're going to want to do it again...and also your friends are going to want to do it with you when they see your spectacular results! Have your calendar ready. And tell them that bringing "rusty stuff" is mandatory.

Here we begin our rusting process by wrapping old tools around pfd muslin that had been soaked in a vinegar and water solution.  

In this photo, you can see fabric-wrapped tools, clamps, and an assortment of bolts and small hardware that has been rusted. Regular table salt can be used, but kosher salt has larger granules and was easier to work with. Can you see the horseshoe image in the upper left ? You'll see it again later. Remember it. Beautiful sunny warm weather isn't required, but it does speed the process and here in Arizona, we've come to expect it. As you can see, we just spread large trash bags out over our yard and left our treasures out in the sun to process.

See how scientific we are? All it takes is rusty water in an old bucket or pan set out in the sun, some old tools and bolts and things like that, and voile! See the rusted lace? Very quick and easy. You can see the kosher salt that I spoke of earlier in this photograph. I found it at my local Target store in the spice section but it can be found at grocery stores near the canning supplies. (Left center)

My collaborator in this project, Sherry Drzal also of Phoenix, is shown here wrapping old chains, pipes and other tools around the presoaked fabrics. Sherryy is the "other half" of the "we" that I keep referring to. We left the larger pieces out in the sun for six days to process, keeping them moist while sunning, but we could see result much sooner. 

This is what our copper wire-wrapped muslin looked like at the end of the six days. This method  was developed by Lois Jarvis of Wisconsin. You can learn all about Lois' techniques and purchase her fabric rusting supplies, including kits and instructional dvd's, at www.rust-tex.com. I highly recommend her techniques and products, especially if you want to jump start the process. I first learned of Lois when I saw her spectacular and very unique Ground Zero Quilt, her 9-11 Memorial Quilt when it was exhibited in Prescott, AZ.  See the quilt at http://www.loisjarvisquilts.com/GZQ/gzq.html. I had the opportunity to meet Lois and see her rusted fabrics at the Midwest Folk & Fiber Show in Crystal Lake, IL, where I was a vendor of felting supplies. 

I literally hosed this fabric down with the garden hose on the ground before soaking it in a bucket of water and Synthrapol, which I always use in my dyeing work. Then I washed the fabric in my home machine twice with double rinses each time, before ironing the fabric.

Back to the horseshoe that I told you would reappear. It is an authentic horseshoe, worn by "Major", Dad's quarter horse at his farm in Illinois. I found it wrapped over the fence of his corral. I soaked the fabric, wrapped it around the horseshoe and got a slightly striped effect in my fabric.

Here are some of my results...drumroll please...

This is the rusted horseshoe wrap. Can you see the vertical lines that were created?

This is the horseshoe we saw earlier when it waylaying on the plastic trash bag on the ground. The horseshoe was laying on the ground with the fabric on top of it (shown on left), the somewhat lighter image on the right happened as a result of fabric laying over the shoe. Very, very cool.

This star is available from Lois Jarvis at www.rust-tex.com