Category: natural dye
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Dandelions
When I took the natural dye class this spring, taught by Sylvia De Mar through The Art League of Alexandria over the course of 3 Sundays, Sylvia asked us to gather dandelions and bring them in for our last class. She asked for the whole plant – flowers, leaves, stems, roots. I know that dandelions…
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Lily of the Valley
The house I grew up in had a big patch of lily of the valley (and lots of other perennials) next to the front door, which we never used. I don’t even remember if there were steps going to that door, though I may be confusing it with my mother’s current front door, which doesn’t…
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Day 6-7 Avocado Dye Experiment
Well, I couldn’t wait any more. With the butterfly bush dye experiment, I admit I also dyed some samples in the avocado dye baths. See? Imagine the yarn is layed out in a circle. Starting with the top-most bunch of samples going counter-clockwise, we have: Pre-mordanted samples – alum, copper, iron Pit-dyed samples – alum,…
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Butterfly Bush (Buddleia Davidii) Natural Dye
I’ve planted lots of butterfly bushes in my yard. By lots I mean more than 10. I started with two – a white one and a purple one – ordered online as bare roots; all the rest are children of those plants. I got them originally because I love lilacs but still don’t have a…
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It’s all about the visuals …
First, an update on the avocado dye experiment: Day 5 after adding water this morning to bring the water level back up over the materials. Mr. Q. called the one on the left a peach color and I reluctantly concede that he’s right. While it’s only day 5 of what I envisioned being a long…
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Day 3 Avocado Dye Experiment
I forgot to take pictures yesterday, but not so today: On the left is a sample from the pit dye bath and, on the right, one from the peel dye bath. I may have forgotten to take pictures, but I have been heating both baths up to a steaming point twice a day, which is…
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Avocado Dye Experiment
I’ve been hesitant to get into dying just as I was hesitant to start spinning my own yarn – I thought “Really. Why bother? Why not just buy yarn?” But … well, I caved in to the peer pressure of Loudoun Needleworkers and now I know why – it’s a way to work with my…
Little Golden Notebook 