Using Natural Dyes

Using Natural Dyes

Garland chrysanthemum

Garland chrysanthemum, also called crown daisy or garland round leaved chrysanthemum, yields lovely shades of yellow on alum mordanted wool. This plant is grown as a vegetable in China and Japan and is sometimes listed in seed catalogs as edible chrysanthemum. The plant grows 45 inches tall, is a bushy plant that branches into several upright stems and has yellow daisy-like flowers that last well as cut flowers.

Dyeing is done using the standard simmering method. The lighter shade of yarn shown in the photo was obtained from leaves, stems and young flowers while the darker color was gotten using plant material that included mature flowers and seed heads.

Garland chrysanthemum and Dyed Wool Yarn

Japanese Indigo

Japanes Indigo (Polygonum tinctorium) also known as dyer's knotweed is an annual plant growing to 2 or 3 feet. It likes warm conditions similar to those for growing tomato plants. The leaves of two to four plants (approximately 8 ounces) will dye four ounces of wool yarn. The dyeing process is a bit complicated but well worth the effort. Complete dyeing instructions may be found in Rita Buchanan's book A dyer's Garden. A good dark blue can be obtained by leaving the yarn in the dye bath for approximately 20 minutes, and lighter shades through exhausting the dye bath by sucessive batches of yarn.

Japanese Indigo and Dyed Wool Yarn