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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Apr 19, 2014 12:57:20 GMT
can't wait to see how it all turns out, it sounds very scientific to me, I have all of the above too, infact too many of some!!!
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Post by koffipot on Apr 19, 2014 14:47:45 GMT
Luvswool, I've picked up things from a few sources, but my main information is from a book my daughter bought me a couple of years ago. "Wild Colour" by Jenny Dean. It's simple to follow, but comprehensive. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to give it a go. Seems it must be popular as Amazon are selling it for 10 times the price of mine!! Marilyn, yes, copper can be toxic. I've dripped some of my copper water onto some elderberry dyed silk I made about 6 months ago and it has yielded beautiful green contrast areas. NB The dandelions could be problematical too! The French call them 'pis au lit' and our colloquial name 'pittley beds' is a pretty accurate translation!! It's well known as a diuretic!
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Post by MTRuth on Apr 19, 2014 22:08:23 GMT
Can't wait to see your results! I just pulled a bunch of dandelions
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Post by Pandagirl on Apr 19, 2014 23:50:28 GMT
No dandelions here yet, thankfully. :-). But we'll have plenty soon enough. I'll be anxious to see your results Judith.
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Post by zed on Apr 20, 2014 9:14:53 GMT
I have a garden full of dandelion flowers and I also have a nice amount of rhubarb ready for pulling, so plenty of leaves there. Do you just tear the leaves and add to water with the fabric, Judith? Would it take long to do a little list of the steps?
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Post by koffipot on Apr 21, 2014 5:20:27 GMT
Zed. The rhubarb leaves are used as a 1st mordant for vegetable fibres, the tannin helps take up of the dye. It's not necessary for animal fibres. Can you believe I don't have any, living so close to the "rhubarb triangle"? I'm making notes and trying to remember to take a few photos, with the intention of sharing the results - good or bad. It's always useful to see what doesn't work. My good intentions for getting on with all this have been scuppered as we've had visitors each day over the weekend. Though it was lovely to see everyone - 'best laid plans of mice and men'........ Robbie Burns I think.
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Post by zed on Apr 21, 2014 10:19:10 GMT
My rhubarb is 'ancient' it's from my dad's patch that he's had since I was a little kid. I asked him for a crown when I moved here. I think it's the Timperley variety, don't know if it's names after the place, but coincidentally he doesn't live that far. (You know he does, he really does ) I'll wait until you've done then because I know less than nothing about mordants etc. I've been saving pieces of muslin that I've used in my tea strainer as an extra filter, they go really dark brown around the edges, I'm trying to save a variety of shades.
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