rhubarb is not just for pie
after chopping the roots into 1/2 inch cubes they were simmered for an hour and left to soak overnight
the pulp was strained off and the yarn simmered for approximately 1 hour then left to cool overnight
rhubarb can be used as a mordant itself, but – in this case – all the yarns were mordanted with alum
from the left – cotton, wool, silk
the cotton is pale but the yellow/gold on the wool and silk is “knock your socks off” strong
rhubarb is sensitive to pH levels
an after bath made with washing soda with a pH of 9 changed the colour quickly
the skeins were in the bath a quick 5 minutes
an after bath of iron produced green on the wool and silk
as it can be harsh on both fibres I left the skeins in the water only as long as it took to give a good colour – 2-3 minutes
I put the pulp back in the weak dye bath and will soak for a week then dye again
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How much rhubarb did you use and how much fibre ( approx)? The colours are truly beautiful great job!
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Rosie – sorry I didn’t keep any records. I dug up the root accidentally and used it all and just kept adding skeins to the dye pot until it was exhausted. Not very scientific. It gives a very strong dye bath.
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i’m wowed by this!
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Velma – I’m really wowed by the strength of colour, it was only in the pot 20 minutes. hope the next lot is not so violent
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Wow! This is like Tibetan Buddhist robes yellow. I love it!
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Kristin – so maybe I should weave some robes? and shave my head??
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Well, I think the robes would be nice, or a small shawl version, but you should keep your hair.
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Kristin – it’s getting very grey, maybe I could just dye it to match??
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Grey is good!
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thanks Kristin. I tend to agree with you.
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Rhubarb gives such surprising yellow golds. And it keeps it’s strength, good luck with the second go-round.
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Heather – I’m hoping for something to overdye with indigo
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Told ya rhubarb root has great colour! Very pretty.
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Louisa – yep! you told me so – but it is a little too-o bright for me, it might hit the iron for just a minute.
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