New Textiles 2011

I never understood the age-old fascination with alchemy until I gilded my first organic yarn.  The smell was noxious, the gold coloring was everywhere and by the end of the afternoon, I had transformed 3 beautiful organic fibers into something gleaming to the eyes but slimy to the touch and an assault on the nose.

Gilding Bamboo

My fiber to gilded yarn process evolved as follows:

• First, twist organic fibers into yarn by hand or by using a hand tool.  I started with 1) human hair (I got some from my sister in California when I was there last weekend), 2) really soft gray bamboo fiber, and 3) hemp fiber.
• Second, I applied an adhesive that contained soluble copper, which is usually used for touching up brass coloring on metal.  This was in hopes of transforming the organic fiber into a conductive material.
• Third, since the soluble copper adhesive did not add any luster to the fabric i.e. it looked sticky and ugly, I applied Inca gold colored mica powder, which is actually a mineral which glimmers like gold
• Fourth, turn on the vent and wait to dry.  Leave the room if possible (since the fumes are highly noxious).

My sister's hairGray bamboo fiber

Hemp fiber

Hand-twisting fibers

Hand spinning with the drop spindle

Spun hemp yarn

Exterior brass gold, an adhesive with soluble copper

Applying the soluble copper adhesive

Inca gold mica powder

Applying the gold mica powder

Gilded human hair

Gilded human hair - up close

Gilded hemp

Gilded hemp - up close

Gilded bamboo fiber

Gilded bamboo fiber - up close

Key stats:

Gilded human hair | diameter: 2-4 mm | yarn length: 30 cm | 1-ply | fiber length: 20-30 cm | twist clockwise 3 turns per inch | no conductivity

Gilded hemp fiber | diameter: 10-12 mm | yarn length: 100-200 cm | 2-ply | fiber length: 5 cm | twist clockwise 3 turns per inch | no conductivity

Gilded bamboo fiber | diameter: 3-4 mm | yarn length: 80-150 cm | 2-ply | fiber length: 5 cm | twist clockwise 2 turns per inch | no conductivity