mushrooms to dye for?
searching through the stash for colours to use in the next tapestry
I came to the conclusion that dyeing would be necessary and therefore more fibre was required
any excuse to buy fibre to spin – as it turned out I’d overlooked one box and didn’t need more colours
several groups of mushrooms have just popped up in the garden
maybe the torrential rain we had last Saturday facilitated that
the wood bugs are having a feast
with a dark purple-brown spore print they are difficult to identify
don’t worry, I’m not going to eat them – wondered if they were any good to dye with
will wait until they have matured a little more
meanwhile struggling to get a warp on the backstrap loom for June’s sample
it doesn’t get any easier or quicker – I invent a totally new problem each time
lesson learned – do not wind two threads at the same time when measuring the warp
two broken warp threads right at the start – learn how to repair when you are part of the tensioning
what to do when the tension is radically out of wack??
cut the warp (an inch at a time!)
pinch a rod from a table loom and tie the warp as you would on a table/floor loom
lash the rod to the backstrap bar
done – well I haven’t woven more (my back needed to stand up!!) so wait and see if it all works
then – after mowing the lawn and cleaning the fish pond
I surprised this little thief climbing out of the neighbor’s garbage can
The colors in your backstrap sample are gorgeous! Is the blue color hand dyed? And i know raccoons are pests in many areas but I love seeing them. We watched all winter as they scuttled under our porch!
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Kerry – the blue is indigo dyed, using up small balls of old yarn. Don’t let raccoons move into your house structure, they will have babies and can do costly damage. The babies will come back year after year. Don’t ask how I know!
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Yes, good idea. I found an Aussie blog that talks about dyeing with mushrooms, so I’ll read up a bit.
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Nanette – need to study mushrooms growing in your area.
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Wouldn’t have thoubht to dye with mushrooms, interested to see your outcome.
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Nanette – link for mushroom dyeing blog http://shroomworks.wordpress.com I wrote a blog after taking a workshop with her “Colour Magic” April 11 2018 Don’t think these will give any colour.
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Thanks I’ll have a look. I had some beautiful dinner plate sized mushrooms come up in the early autumn rains, and some with acid yellow tops …..shouting ‘I’m poisonous’ probably. I just admired them but didn’t think of dyeing with them, I’ll know next time.
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Nanette – you will be more successful if you have a good book for identification and something that tells you mushrooms that contain dye.
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