rhubarb pie – no, dye

we all know what rhubarb looks like

but the root is rather surprising

a large, very solid lump

when cut it is beautiful

with strong colour and almost rings like in tree trunks

 April’s dye challenge uses it on wool, silk and cotton

gives the a very strong colour – but not orange as one might expect

using an alum mordant on the handspun wool and silk

and tannin and alum on the cotton

the silk and cotton have a very greenish tone

in the neighborhood…

the municipal sign people have been very creative

much better than cutting down the tree

and now I’m off to dig in the veggie garden