Shades of brown :: Naturally dyed yarn ::

Tuesday 31 March 2015


This is my third attempt at naturally dyeing yarn - I used old fustic this time. I did not use the solar method, but went the really (really) long way about it - making a dye bath, using a mordant separately, and dye the skeins The difference between the two skeins is the mordant.

I was really hoping to take proper notes to be able to replicate the process. However this is not possible at the moment - babies waking up when you are about to start the dyeing, or feeding time happens when you need to need to stop the mordant bath. I reckon the solar method is better suited for my life - because I can leave it as long as I want and it will be fine. 


Nevertheless I am really pleased with the result. I think the lighter skein may become socks, I am unsure about the brown skein, maybe a beanie hat, to leave me time to think about it. 

I bought all that I needed from wild colours in the UK. 

Has anyone dyed yarn with fustic, what were your results? I am not sure I should have really ended up with the brown one. I love how naturally dyeing is so unpredictable. However my aim is to make all this process more predictable - but the way I am going about it, it will take a loooooonnngg time! I am really in awe of the dyers out there who can dye several skeins the same colour using natural elements. 

10 comments:

  1. How fascinating that mordant can make such a huge difference, Nat! I haven't attempted much in the ways of dyeing myself, so with (bigger) babies of my own I appreciate your comments about solar dyeing being better suited to this particular stage in our mothering lives. I look forward to seeing what you make with this lovely yarn :)

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  2. This looks so fun to do. I have a base skein of fingering that's crying for color.

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  3. What a difference! I love both colors, Nat!

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  4. Gorgeous khaki colour you got! Amazing how much difference the mordant can make!

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  5. whoa, a huge difference between the skeins! I bet they would look lovely knitted up together in a stranded design. Your experiments with dyeing (and while having young kids!) Is very inspiring!

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  6. Such gorgeous colors. Great job Nat!

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  7. I love both of these colors. It must be quite fascinating to dye your own yarn and see how the colors turns out. I'm sure it will knit up beautifully.

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  8. Haven't used fustic, but I'm hoping to have a go at gorse this week. Yours looks great!

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  9. I would love to try this too. I am in the same boat, Solar dyeing may be best suited for me. You make me want to try this so badly!!

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