These dyes come from plants I have gathered locally for the most part, and usually they ripen and are ready for use in the fall. Sometimes I can then freeze them. Either way, I’m doing the hard work for you in gathering the dye material and preparing the yarn. You then join me for the wonderful dye process! We will used black walnuts which make a pretty warm brown, pokeberries which make either red or fusia, and yellow/orange with flowers I have grown and gathered, plus onion skins. You’ll be able to dye one hank in each color, then have a 4th hank for making a multicolor of your choice. You will learn how the yarn is mordanted (or prepared), and what the unique process is for each dye material.
One favorite is the pokeberry. When using vinegar as a mordant, you can make a gorgeous lasting red or fusia (or both on the same yarn!) by a skilled cooking procedure. The black walnut brown also goes beautifully with the pokeberry colors, so that can make a nice multicolored also. The yellows and/or oranges from the flowers and onions are often a bit of a surprise, but beautiful.
Come and join me for this 3 hour class to explore dyeing with foraged plants.
