Colors of Autumn: A Plant Dye Workshop Amongst the busy crowds of shoppers and fiber enthusiasts wearing their best hand kniy sweaters, despite the 70° October weather, a beautiful rainbow of colors began to emerge during a fun and creative…
No matter where you live in the world we are all blessed with an abundance of local, beautiful, and vibrant dye plants. Whether they are growing wild or cultivated in gardens even the casual natural dyer knows that there are…
Last year I posted a recipe for making dye with Stinging Nettles. to check out that post click here. The dye bath from last year turned out to be a lovely, yet light color. I had harvested in the late spring once the nettles…
This past month I was lucky to be able to take a workshop on Mycopigments-- or using mushrooms for dyes. If you want to schedule one for your town or learn anything about mushrooms for dye then go to the…
As I prepare for the new growing seasons, sow my natural dye seeds and research recipes it seems like the perfect time to share photos from my experiments with Japanese Indigo from last summer. It was my first time growing…
In honor of this year's first annual Nettle Fest, being held at Lifebridge Foundation in Rosendale, NY this upcoming Saturday May 11th, I spent yesterday enjoying the beautiful sunny weather and dyeing yarn with freshly harvested stinging nettles. Nettle Fest…
A FIRST TIME GARDENER The title says it all. I realized as I set out to plan and create a natural dye garden this winter that I have never successfully grown a plant in my entire life other than the…
Have you ever marveled at the rich color of the dark blue water that is left over after soaking black beans? Or wondered if some of the food waste that ends up in trash cans and compost can be re-used…
At first glance, the world of dyeing with natural substances may seem overwhelming. With the immense scope of possibilities for dyes, various processes included, and the fact that this is not a clear cut science it is easy to see…