Category: Natural Plant Dyeing

Natural Dyeing with Hollyhocks: Stunning Results from The Black Knight

June 30, 2022

As the temperatures soar here I thought it was time to get going with solar dyeing and what better place to start than with my amazing hollyhocks. I love hollyhocks and have grown them for years so you can imagine my disappointment when the first few hollyhocks planted here failed to thrive. I had been kind to them giving them both their beloved sunshine but also the relief of a little shade later in the … More Natural Dyeing with Hollyhocks: Stunning Results from The Black Knight

Low intensity natural plant dyeing in Winter: A simple, step by step, anyone can do it, guide

March 31, 2022

In my previous natural dyeing post I talked about using a new to me method of low intensity dyeing that used the heat generated by our woodburning stove and time. Today I thought I’d share a quick guide to this approach so you can easily see how you could adapt it to suit your circumstances, and integrate elements of it in your dyeing practice should you wish to do so. If you’ve never dyed before, … More Low intensity natural plant dyeing in Winter: A simple, step by step, anyone can do it, guide

Natural Dyeing with Loquat leaves: When nature blows your mind

March 21, 2022

I took and enforced break from natural dyeing in the run up to the New Year because I had exhausted my stocks of undyed yarn to use as a base. So, it was with great anticipation that I returned to it in the New Year having ordered more yarn in the UK and having been given a totally new yarn fresh from the mill by a friend. All the anticipation in the world couldn’t have … More Natural Dyeing with Loquat leaves: When nature blows your mind

A Winter of Natural Plant Dyeing Experiments: Striking Neons, a few cowpats and a surprise

March 26, 2021

It’s been a while since I posted regarding my natural dyeing experiments so I thought I’d do a round up of the various colours and shades that I’ve been cooking up over the winter months, in anticipation of, and to clear the decks for, the opportunities that spring will bring. Today I will stick to plant dyeing but will also be sharing some mushroom experiments, (spoiler: variable outcomes but some spectacular pictures!), and some lichen … More A Winter of Natural Plant Dyeing Experiments: Striking Neons, a few cowpats and a surprise

My Advent Tavis: Update

January 8, 2021

Back at the beginning of December I stated my knitterly intention to spend the Advent period starting and, hopefully, finishing a Tavis Cowl from Susan Crawford‘s latest publication Evolution, using the mini skeins I had dyed myself over the past year as part of my experiments in natural dyeing. So how do you think I did? Did my good intentions get me anywhere? Well, yes they did. It seems a little bit of intentionality can … More My Advent Tavis: Update