turkey tails and avocado
remember the turkey tail mushroom?
I chopped it into 1/2 inch bits and left it to soak for 2 weeks
it remained tough, like leather and started to smell nasty
alum mordanted wool simmered for 2 hours – and it really smelled BAD
gave a pale yellow/green
avocado are expensive here and the ones in the store now are not very good
still, they will be used for dyeing
I chop the pit before it hardens, as it dries you can see the dye potential
the samples are from last year
stitching in the evenings
I love the ripple patterns the kantha stitch makes
December will be busy so I got a jump start on the backstrap weaving
it will be the final piece for the year’s challenge
handspun wool in both warp and weft
indigo dyed, natural grey and brown
the grey is thicker so I will see how the different weights weave
planning to weave the weft like a tartan
now it is time to wind a warp for the floor loom
I love the stitching! I might use that as inspiration. I have done some dyeing with natural materials but am in awe of your expertise. And your weaving.
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“going batty” – sorry, I don’t know your name – one of the joys of electronic communication? My mother started me doing traditional embroidery at a very early age, she might not be too impressed with my more non-traditional wanderings but I do love kantha. Can no longer knit due to arthritis so stitching (or spinning) is my evening pastime. With all the wonderful wilderness surrounding you and your love of nature I’m surprised you haven’t tried natural dyeing. Lichen would be a good place to start, I only use windfalls and never pick growing plants but it is very easy – don’t need a mordant (assisting chemical) and gives lovely warm colours.
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I did try natural dyeing a few years ago and went on a couple of courses taught by my friend Susan Martin which included using lichen. She also taught me spinning and when she was given a wheel by a lady who was giving up spinning through old age with the instruction to lend it to a student she passed it to me. However I never seem to have time to use it! I too am developing arthritis in my fingers so maybe the day will come when I cannot knit or crochet and will turn to spinning instead. there are so many things I want to learn or improve at and so little time.
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Going Batty – time is so precious, we have to decide what matters the most and enjoy it. I spin mostly in the evening when I’m too tired to do much else, it’s like a working meditation for me.
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Oh my word, I wish I could send you some avocado pits from here. They’ve been traditionally used in Australia instead of butter, and there are many, many trees with fruit just lying on the ground. I wonder if you can dye with mango; I know they stain your hands if you’re preparing a lot of them, just like carrot and pumpkin…
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Kate – the plants of Australia are so different from what we have here in the north, I am envious of your flowers and birds and their beautiful flamboyant colours. Mango and pumpkin don’t dye and carrot tops do but like so many other things the colour isn’t worth the effort.
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Turkey Tails are delightfully named, too bad they are so stinky. I am impressed you kept up with the backstrap challenge.
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Kjerstin – I love the subtle colour patterns on the turkey tails. I’ve always wondered if the dyed, now I know the smell isn’t worth it – but I have heard you can use them to make paper, wonder what it smells like? I will be happy when all this backstrap weaving is finished.
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