For one of my experiments with fermentation dyeing I used twigs from some fallen branches from a plant called Ligustrum vulgare aka wilde liguster (in Dutch) aka wild privet (in English). I put them in a Cola bottle (I did not have anything suitable around), covered them with a black plastic sheet (to keep the solution away from direct sunlight) and left them sit in a sun and warm place for about a month. The water colored very fast and I had big hopes for it - it had a brown purplish shade that I hoped to see also on my wool.
A few days ago I decided I will try and dye a piece of merino rowing. I followed the same procedure as before: acid and basic solutions, 2 hours in acid, 20 minuted in basic and repeat. But oh, the disappointment! While the shade I got was very pretty, it was not purplish and it was very light! I am not saying I do not like it, it's just that I did not expect to get this color out of the dye solution. Ah well.. I guess that is the beauty of dyeing with plants... you don't always get what you expect.
Meanwhile I finished spinning the wool and decided to make a simple baby vest for my brother's not yet born son. To keep things clean and tidy, I will write a separate post about the baby vest pattern :)
A few days ago I decided I will try and dye a piece of merino rowing. I followed the same procedure as before: acid and basic solutions, 2 hours in acid, 20 minuted in basic and repeat. But oh, the disappointment! While the shade I got was very pretty, it was not purplish and it was very light! I am not saying I do not like it, it's just that I did not expect to get this color out of the dye solution. Ah well.. I guess that is the beauty of dyeing with plants... you don't always get what you expect.
Meanwhile I finished spinning the wool and decided to make a simple baby vest for my brother's not yet born son. To keep things clean and tidy, I will write a separate post about the baby vest pattern :)