the leaves are beginning to fall
dyeing – autumn colours
achillea – bright yellow yarrow
gives a strong yellow on silk (top) and wool
it is also a long-lasting cut flower
the squirrels plant walnuts, which get out of control quickly
I chopped one back (trying to kill it!) and got a smashed finger
then peeled the bark, chopped it up and let it soak in the sun for a week
boiled it for an hour, removed the bark
and boiled silk and wool in the bath for another hour
the results are on the right, wool on the outside and then silk
moving left is wool and then silk dyed in just the leaves
a mordant isn’t always necessary with walnut but I used alum for all the dye pots
my favorite is the handspun silk dyed in the leaves
seen here in the monk’s belt weaving
can’t believe summer is flying by so quickly
www.onesmallstitch.Wordpress.com u 
lovely walnut colors. we’re still frying here, but i’m changing scenery in september 🙂
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Neki – we have had a very dry summer but no excess heat. hope you are going somewhere nice.
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I recently had success with walnut husks, the same reddish brown you got on the wool. I gathered the fallen immature nuts from the road side. Just soaking them in water releases a lot of colour.
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Joelle – natural dyeing can become addictive, you have to work hard to get a good range of interesting colours. I find walnut – in all its forms – gives one of the best browns.
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Love Autumnal colours. August is such a strange month, assumed to be Summer but really it is the beginning of Autumn, harvest time. I think that is why people are so often disappointed with their August holiday weather.
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Lis – it has been a strange summer, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it lasts a little longer. September is often a beautiful month here.
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there has been a turning, ever so gently (in north russell it was a hot and humid rush into a cooler, quieter morning). i miss the rowdy birdsong, but love how aughust holds us.
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Velma – we’ve had a cool summer and now the change has started. The garden needs rain, the leaves are already falling.
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Those browns are beautiful–and my favorite is the one you used in the Monk’s belt, too–gorgeous color combination! Be careful, though, you need your fingers!
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Kerry – it is always fun to see what colours the garden will produce. all fingers still intact.
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Wonderful colours.
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Debbie – thank you
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It looks painful Jean, but the results are so beautiful. Are they black walnut trees? I tried the brown Xmas shells without success. They are not exactly fresh by the time they reach us! The leaves on my small gingko tree have a golden tinge I thought this week, so Autumn may be on its way.
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Carole – they are immature trees that have never grown old enough to produce nuts. You have to dye with the soft green outer shell covering, it gives a very strong dark brown. Yes, my tiny gingko is turning yellow, summer is slipping away.
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Beautyful brown shades, especially in combination with indigo. I never tryed to dye with walnut bark, but willow.
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Birgit – what colour did you get with the willow? I don’t have access to a tree I can cut.
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Sorry, I have seen your question only now.
We have lots of willows in our garden and from time to time they needed to be cut a bit. I achieved a soft hazlenut brown. A few days ago I tryed the fresh soft green bark from the branches and a pale yellow appears.
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Brigit – it is always fun to use materials you can gather close to home.
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What wonderful colours
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thanks Judi, it is always fun to use garden clippings.
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