Anyone growing woad plants probably knows that they are also prolific seeders. The flowers are really lovely and I have no problem with them seeding everywhere but it did seem a waste not to harvest the bountiful dangling seeds. I’d heard that the seeds contained dye and so though I’d experiment as a good way …
After almost a year’s wait, I finally unleashed a solar dye pot that had been brewing in the greenhouse. Using ivy weeded from a friend’s garden, I decided to save the stems for basketry and use the leaves in a dye pot. I’d heard somewhere on the internet that ivy can be used to get …
My woad plants were somewhat neglected this year. They mostly went to flower and then to seed, growing about 4ft tall and attracting all manner of insects to their yellow flowers. I collected the seeds as I have read that you can get a dye from them. There are dozens of little woad seedlings popping …
19-20 August 2023 This weekend was extra full of crafts and fibre-y goodness. On Saturday, my local Guild of spinners, weavers and dyers had their annual garden party. This involves a fleece sale, raffle, shared lunch, quiz etc and the usual society business and sales table. As a bonus, a work colleague of mine …
We all see those tempting tufts of wool stuck to fences and grass tussocks when we’re out and about. I’ve decided to start a collection from various locations with the aim of turning them (eventually) into some sort of crafted travelogue. On last week’s trip to north-east Yorkshire, I was on the lookout for …
21/08/2023 I always like to sort and wash raw fleeces as soon as possible after getting them. If I keep them outside I worry about mice, insects and damp. If I keep them inside it feels unhygienic, a bit pongy and can still attract moths etc to my precious stash. This evening (Monday) after a …
