Re: Herbs for dyeing

[gardenfay]

No but you must have got your new Pine Tree catalog recently like I did :)

[pinetreefarm]

Before my illness, I gathered wild plants for dyeing my wool. Many times I would have to dry them before i could use them. Took everything from wild onions, to cattails. Purslane was always good. I used acorns from the trees. Of course garden produce such as onion skins, beet and carrots were good for dyeing the wool. When I spun the wool in the grease, I did not try to dye then so had to save all that I had gathered.

Pine

[idris]

Have you tried boiled pinecones, with Alum-Tannin Alum, then Iron? Can give cotton some unique and delicate hues. *The other one is Alum, carob pod, iron; which can give either grey, or silver. *Talk about giving away trade secrets! Walnut husks give dark brown. I do them with white cotton knitting thread, and either knit or make two-tone cordage and go for stringbags and whatever.

[pinetreefarm]

I do not use chemicals as mordants when I dye. Prefer more natural mordants. The colors are not as bright but the hues still can be fantastic. Sometimes I will spin and then dye..It gives a wonderful texture. A good book on the subject is the classic:
'The Weaver's Garden" by Rita Buchanan.

I rarely use cotton, although my 6 harness loom could put out some. Somehow I prefer wool. My Rick Reeves can spin the finest plyed yarn. That will weave wool, perfect for pants, suits, etc.

[pinetreefarm]

Just been thinking...it's good that there are a few spinner/weavers in this forum since there is no fiber arts catagory, I wondered. however with Deberosa, and a few others that know how to spin/weave, perhaps we can get into some spinning tricks/projects/felting projects/ wool types/ angora, etc.

[spinnenrad]

Don't forget calendula and marigolds! These give wonderful yellow shades. Tansy grows wild all around me as do mullein (yellows and greens), blood root (red shades), and sumac, which provides its own mordant.