Spring dyeing
I took another dyeing workshop with Susanne Grosjean at our local adult education center. I enjoy it so much, although it is always a hectic day, packed with information and activity. I dyed all the fabric I brought with me, which was my main goal. I’m going to look into the flying geese pattern for this one. Although Jude’s post today showing the back of the magic cloth was very intriguing! No rush on this design, since I’m backed up with quilts to work on, for sure.
Most of the dyeing was done with madder. There were two different madder roots, one purchased and one homegrown in Susanne’s garden. She chopped up both and blended them. It was helpful learning to process the roots instead of using an extract.
The madder yielded a glowing orangey-red.
We also made a cochineal vat. I struggled to keep my notes straight on which fabric went into which dye. The fabrics below might be a light madder. I like having this much fabric in a lighter color.
The fabrics below were dyed using cutch, which yielded a light brown/tan color.
And some yellows! I haven’t decided whether to use them as is, or overdye for oranges. We’ll see.
The onion skins came out vibrant as usual. I think this cloth rested next to some of the madder-dyed cloths, explaining the faint pink areas in the center.
And a marigold bath rounded out the collection. The marigolds were all from Susanne’s garden as well. The yellows are very yellow.
Results: sixteen lengths of fabric, different sizes. I bought them from EnviroTextiles in Colorado. One is 100% hemp (“Summer Cloth,” medium weight) and the other is a hemp-silk blend. I’ve never worked with hemp before and I’m finding it very similar to linen so far. I’m excited about piecing these colors together.
?? heart be still!!!
I follow the YouTube channel of a Dutch knitter who uses the term “heart jumping” (meaning something like “sparks joy”).
How great to see so many varied dyed cloths and what a great dyeing experience you had.. It has been a very long time since I have undertaken dyeing on such a large scale. Would you ever use some of these dyed cloths to make clothing?
Many years ago I had a friend who traveled to Morocco and brought back madder root for me as a gift. On cotton, the color looked just like your first photo. I also used silk and it drank the color, making an even brighter shade of madder. I had a long hemmed strip of silk, gifted to me, so I bundled the ends of the silk with solidago aka golden rod and loose tea leaves and the middle was bundled with madder root and solar dyed. The scarf turned out beautifully,, looking like a glorious sunrise and my friend loved it. In fact, she wore it to a dye workshop that she took with India Flint. I had never taken a class from India but was a frequent contributor to several bogs that India used to have so she knew me by name. When my friend told her that I had made the scarf she wore, India paid me a great compliment and I owe that compliment all to madder!
I don’t gravitate toward making clothing anymore…I used to as a young person, but got away from it. Your scarf sounds so beautiful and your madder story is fascinating. Madder is pretty amazing.
Catherine~
Oh my goodness! It is like holding the quality of Earth right in your hands! I really, really like the Onion with Pink. So pretty.
While I can’t wait to see what you do…I also could just wallow in them, as is!
I don’t think I’ll be cutting into it any time soon. Wallow away, I’ll be doing the same.
I took a dyeing workshop back in 2014 and used bits and pieces of the cloth for years after … such a gift to have someone who is willing to do the heavy lifting of preparing vats to enable you to dye your own cloth!!
I have the same strategy, Liz. I don’t dye much on my own anymore, I just use cloth from the workshop. Susanne doesn’t do bundle dyeing (ecoprinting) though, so I might do some of that occasionally.
I have used all these dyes but it has been a while. I love seeing your results. Dyeing is hard work, but so fascinating.