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  • History of Marbling
  • How It's Done
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  • Why I Quit Silk
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Picture

How Marbling Is Done

First, the fabric is gently washed to remove any surface impurities, and hung to dry. Then it is soaked in a mordant (fixative) to make the fibers more receptive to the paint pigments, and again hung to dry.

Water is mixed with a plant fiber to form a gelatinous liquid, called “size,ˮ on which the marbling patterns are created. The size is poured into the marbling tray and left to cure. The size is continually skimmed during the marbling process to maintain a clean surface to work on.

Paint colors are mixed, then thinned to the proper consistency to float easily and spread freely.

Brushes, droppers, or whisks are used to apply the colors to the surface of the size. Handmade rakes and combs are used to create the design.

The colors are applied one at a time to the marbling bath, where they create a design called the stone pattern. This is the starting point for all combed patterns.

Rakes, combs, or other tools are used to work the colors into a pattern.

The mordant-treated fabric is lowered carefully onto the design, which transfers to it immediately. Then it is rinsed and hung to dry.

For pieces that are going to be over marbled, the process is repeated again, starting with the alum soak.

After drying, the piece is heat set to make it colorfast and washable. Then it gets a final gentle wash to remove any remaining size or excess pigment, is hung to dry, and ironed again.

Final product - marbled scarves!
Copyright 2021 Ellen Sue Gordon
www.ellensue.com
  • Home
  • History of Marbling
  • How It's Done
  • Variations
  • Gallery
  • About Me
  • Why I Quit Silk
  • Blog
  • Show Calendar
  • Contact