Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Summer dyeing





Dyeing in the summer is such a treat. The yarns dry quickly and I can throw the shed doors open wide. The NZ plants glow in the evening light as do the plant dyed fibres, mimicking the colours of our garden. We have loads of native trees from manuka, flax, ribbon wood, lancewoods, hebes, kowhai etc and so our garden is full of birdsong.
I've been dyeing a whole selection of different fibres with logwood, madder, cochineal, wild carrot, pomegranate, cutch etc. I enjoy the woodsy smells of the dyepots. Most dyepots benefit from being left overnight before taking out the yarns so take a while. Some even benefit from further slow cooking the next day.


Here's just a selection of colours. I plan to refresh the indigo vat this week to add more blues, navy and greens.

We've enjoyed walks to the sea whilst waiting for the dye baths to cool.


Nasturtians by the dyeshed enjoy the last of the evening sun.


Which makes these glow on the deck too.



8 comments:

Shirley Goodwin said...

Now I want to dig out my natural dyes that I have tucked away somewhere! I have been handpainting, which is not quite as tranquil as your work looks.

Dianne said...

I can't believe the beauty and variety of colour from natural dye. Just gorgeous.

Doe said...

Just trying to get ahead dyeing for the UNWIND retreat in Dunedin. Not that tranquil Shirley as the shed is hot and very steamy and all the yarn needs mordanting first and some need further attention afterwards to but I aim to get lots of variety of colour.
Thanks Dianne, whilst less predictable plant dyes have lots of different colour pigments hiding in each one just need to coax the colour out. All affected by acid or alkaline environment, quality of water, heat, temperament of the dyer etc...

Anonymous said...

So pretty!!!!! Please, please list some on your felt site!!!!

Rachelle said...

As Kiwiyarns said, please list some on your Felt shop. I'd break my yarn ban for that!

Doe said...

OK I'll do that. Watch for announcement on Ravelry and happy new year:-)

Edward Tagg said...

Hi Doe....
How do you get purple... I have pokeberries in my park in the neighbourhood... failing with black beans lately... and cant find dyers lichen in north island.. lots of success with blue bum and red salvias and black berries... do you ha v e a contact number... failed with dried hibiscus.. and roses with mint and lemon juice... need to pick someones brain obviously... bless Edward Tagg 0226583373.

Edward Tagg said...

Sorry for spelling... blue gum