alum mordant, dyeing with cabbage

 Well, dyeing with cabbage didn't go so well for me.  Yeah, pretty much just white fabric at the end.  I dunno, the colours in the bath were amazing, and I definitely want to try again, maybe leaving the fabric to soak longer, or something.  I read that red cabbage might not actually be colour fast, though.  Anyways, I chopped up the cabbage, simmered it for a hour, added the fabric, simmered for another hour.  Then I added baking soda, which made it turn BRIGHT TEAL.  It was so cool and I really wish had attached to the fabric at all.  Anyways, any tips from proper dyers out there?

I thought I'd add mordant info, in case anyone was interested. I found specific info difficult to find.  I mixed washing soda and alum together in hot water, then let the fabric soak in the bath for three days.
Alum: can be found in the baking section of the grocery store, in a jar near the spices in mine.  Use 1/4 the weight of the fabric in alum (ex, 25 grams for 100 grams of fabric).
Washing soda: can be easily made by baking baking soda on a high temperature. It will noticeably change texture when it's changed, I think after about an hour.  Add this in a 6 grams for every 100 grams of fabric.

Anyways, I've just dyed with avocado skins, but photos will have to wait until I get back from the weekend.  Seb and I are heading to Quebec City to visit his family.  Also, we're going to Pink Floyd performing The Wall, which I hadn't heard until this evening, but now I'm prepared!  Should be....weird and fun?!