It is still wet and no real sign of it staying fine enough to head out to do any shed building, painting, or collecting materials for natural dyeing. I would need to set up a tent etc. and with no facilities yet it wouldn't be very comfortable. So while I wait I will make do with what I can find around the garden here.
My first experiment was with a bunch of Native Daphne leaves boiled in an old aluminium base electric fry pan. I had offered this pan online to Freecyclers ...twice....but had no takers. So glad now, as it has become my official indoor dyeing pot .
It was a quick experiment using some hand washed uncarded lambs wool staples stuffed in a small onion bag just to see if these leaves gave any colour. I filled the pan to the brim with leaves and covered them with tap water. I started on a high setting, but found that I could keep a good simmer on the number 2 setting. After about 40 minutes I popped in the bag of wool and simmered for another half hour. As an after thought I threw in a slurp of vinegar. If I was using a pit fire I would certainly let it cook a lot longer.
Experienced natural dyers may throw up their hands in horror at the process, but I did get some colour and turned off the pan shortly after it appeared. In the dull night light I though I had a grey colour and planned to use it in a felt picture. I left it soaking it in juice over night and in the light of day I was delighted when I discovered a lovely soft green. The photos don't show the true colour....it is best described as a lovely pastel Grannie Smith apple green.
I will be trying another native I have growing in my garden to day....I don't know what is is called, but hopefully one of my readers will be able to tell me
when I post the pictures.
