Each year during the warmer sunnier months I fill large glass jars with botanicals mordants water and a variety of textiles and threads. These sit on the window sills of my conservatory for months until they produce the colours I want. Second batches give paler shades. This gives me more threads than I need for my own use during the colder winter months when I do more hand sewing. I also wrap a range to go inside my inspiration packs.
Whilst in lockdown the garden has been receiving a lot of attention, especially the areas that have been left unattended for several years. One such patch was the rhubarb bed. The original plants were over ten years old and this year they refused to produce any useable stalks. So up they came and after investigation the roots weren’t even suitable to split and replant they were rotten and woody. So the decision was made to replace with new and I got to chop up the ‘good’ bits for some natural dyeing. I had successfully made a mordant from leaves before but never used the roots. After cleaning, peeling and chopping they looked like this. Next it was time to consult Jenny Deans book ‘Wild Colour’. The 600gms roots were brought to a simmer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile I prepared my fabric. Animal fibres give the best results and although fabric does not require a mordant I chose to mordant my silk habotai and noil with Alum and Cream of Tartar. A piece of 50/50 silk wool
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