Tag: natural dyeing

A summer of solar dyeing for some timely inspiration

August 14, 2024

Today I want to share with you some lovely skeins of yarn dyed last summer, to both inspire myself and to inspire you if you’re tempted to give it a go! These are solar dyes from last year, possibly the easiest, lowest input approach to dyeing, although perhaps not the quickest. What you can also see from this selection is just how you can achieve bright, clear and saturated the colours using this method. Last … More A summer of solar dyeing for some timely inspiration

More sunny solar dyes from the kitchen and garden

August 27, 2023

As I sit here in temperatures hitting 40 degrees celsius, I thought I’d take a moment inside, in the shade to sit quietly and tell you about a some more glorious colours this summer of high temperatures and ‘burny’ sun have enabled me to create. Following the wonderful vibrant yellow I was able to create using yellow coreopsis and the power of the sun which I shared last time, I’ve been trying this approach with … More More sunny solar dyes from the kitchen and garden

Natural Plant Dyeing: Adding a fabulous new orange to the palette with Bidens

May 31, 2023

Towards the end of last year, as leaves tuned colour, the weather turned colder and frost threatened some tender dye plants, I began to plan some more dyeing experiments; a combination of trying to replicate previous colours and discover new ones. This potential for new colours comes as we explore further what plants will thrive in our clay soil, and in hot dry summers that can transition to cold waterlogged winters overnight, or in the … More Natural Plant Dyeing: Adding a fabulous new orange to the palette with Bidens

Wovember inspiration continues with Gentile di Puglia and La Piantalana

December 14, 2022

Yes, I know it’s December, but what I don’t know is ‘Where has this year has gone?’ That aside, this 3rd instalment of my ‘Wovember’ inspired series introducing local to me Italian sheep breeds and yarns is spotlighting the Gentile di Puglia sheep. Gentile di Puglia is one of Italy’s ‘merino type’ sheep breeds and is recognised as a wool sheep. It is often argued to have been developed from the 15th century onwards through … More Wovember inspiration continues with Gentile di Puglia and La Piantalana