dyeing with natural materials

[red]

we have been experimenting with dyeing..

we grew woad and made blue


and picked nettles and made a sort of golden colour (before undyed wool on left, dyed with nettles on right)



using wool from our sheep
we are saving onion skins for our next venture...

I think other people dabble in dyes too? what have you tried?

[invisiblepiper]

Try that yellow lichen which grows on stone - the Gaels call it crottal - makes a wonderful dye. Find it on old stone dykes etc.

[carolinej]

I have read a book on weaving that gave advice on dyeing your own wool. It looked really tempting.

You have inspired me to look into it now. I have lots of white wool and no babies to use it up on, so I will be watching this thread to get colour ideas.

Well, done, I am impressed. I love the blue.

Do you spin your wool yourself?

cj

[StripyPixieSocks]

What lovely colours particularly the nettle one!!!

I used to tie dye years ago with things like Beetroot and Turmeric... such vibrant colours!

[red]

Do you spin your wool yourself?

my OH does - he's not bad for a beginner eh? we bought the wheel last winter/spring and just just plunged in

[snapdragon]

experiments so far
Onion skins make golds/yellow/browns a bit like Burnt Sienna
I dyed fleece with them but haven't spun any yet
Mahonia Aquifolia (oregon grape) inside the bark (and roots too I read) is yellow which (so far) I have dyed some rugwool and have greeny yellows (or yellowy greens)- I found this out whilst cutting back in the garden good find eh? am about the peel and soak the rest of the cuttings

[snapdragon]

oooh yes
one more. Beetroot
made a colour not dissimilar to your nettles ??

I think I needed a mordant for that one

[carolinej]

The book I have says most tings need a mordant.

Have you any suggestions for things that dont?

cj

[red]

woad doesn't

[Green Aura]

I found this - looks quite informative

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/naturaldyes.html

I've got some aran wool and loads of fruit powders, so I thought I might have a go.

[Odsox]

Probably a bit late for this year, but tomato leaves make a pale lemon colour.

[mrsflibble]

I love that woad blue, that's soooo pretty.

I've never tried dying. I did think about it yesterday when pouring away my pickling onion skin removal water, but other than wee I don't know of any mordants.

[StripyPixieSocks]

Salt is a mordant too so I believe?

[red]

alum is a mordant. you can buy it from chemists,

you soak the wool in a solution of alum then go on to dye. - lots of websites about with quantities

[mrsflibble]

thanks!