Fresh Natural Dyes

Moved into this apartment complex because it has a large 

natural hill with grasses, etc. for my cats, Sweet Pea and Luna.

When Spring arrived and the plants started to grow, 

I first harvested Dandelion flowers. 

Dandelions produce a creamy light yellow color on yarn and a lovely gold on silk.

Dandelion

 California Poppies

No California Poppies on my hill, but plenty along the roadside. Picked a bunch...just the flower heads.

The poppies produced a butter yellow yarn and golden yellow silk material and ribbon.

Creeping Buttercup

Then found Creeping Buttercup creeping up my hill. Picked just the 

flower heads, but read that the whole plant can be used. That's next.

Creeping Buttercup produces a nice tan color on yarn and silk.

Wavy Leaf Thistle

Next on the hill is Wavy Leaf Thistle (at least I think that's what it is). 

I will know for sure when it flowers. Using the whole plants, the yarn 

and silk were dyed a beautiful brown champagne color.

Yellow Dock

Dock leaves and dock roots produce a wide range of colors.

Love it!!

 Dock root all by itself produces a lovely yellow. 

Adding a little bit of iron produces a mustard color.

Adding more iron produces a gold and 

adding even more iron turns into a sage green.

Spearmint Leaves

Again the plant without iron produces tan to yellow. 

Adding iron produces a wonderful sage green.