Natural colours

For the last two weeks we have been dyeing several kilograms of different wool types with natural dyestuffs.
The photos below are proof of the bright and broad palette of colours that can be achieved with plant material.

First, we started with fennel and carrot tops to obtain yellows and onion skins to obtain golden oranges:

We used goldenrod (Solidago spp) stems and leaves and ivy (Hedera helix) leaves for light lime yellows:

We also tried horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and we obtained a bright sunny yellow. This is the pot full of plant tops:

The dye bath with the wool:

And the skeins hung to dry:

The garden was full of White bedstraw (Galium album, which is related to Galium verum) and we decided to give it a try…

…but the result wasn’t very convincing:

Then we started our adventure with indigo:

The oxygen in the air allows the dye to oxidize. The colour goes from yellow-green to blue as the fibres are taken out of the indigo vat:

Different shades of indigo blue:

We also overdyed with indigo some of the many yellows to obtain greens:

Then we used madder extract (Rubia tinctorum) and cochineal to produce different reds, corals, pinks and oranges:

And logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum) for deep blues, violets and lavender tones:

Last, we tried Common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) from the garden to wash our skeins in a sustainable way:

You can learn how to dye your own yarns and knit scarves, socks and beanies in your favourite colours in Anna & Juan’s next Pop-Up Store in Lucerne. Applications are online here. See you there!