gardening for quilting?
do any of you gardeners grow flowers/herbs or vegetables just to use in dying fabrics?
I am adding some plants to the front perennial bed this year that will be just that. Plants for dying! I already use beets, carrots, onion skins, the usual stuff, but wanted to add some heirloom plants that would have been used back in the day! Of course 90% of the mordants used back then are not illegal to use but I will do what I can with Alum, salt, cream of tartar and vinegar! Here are my two fave sites for learning more about using plants for dying! http://www.pioneerthinking.com/craft...turaldyes.html this one you have to be careful and watch what mordants she recommends. In the UK they have different rules on mordants than our EPA does here! http://www.wildcolours.co.uk/ |
that sounds like to much work for me!!!
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hardly..I love 65% of my flower bed to the heat last year, so we are removing what is left, putting in drip irrigation and misters, so might as well put in plants I can use instead of just "pretty" things! I dye fabric anyway, so why not play with the natural stuff?
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I have never done anything like this. It does sound like fun!
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yes. it is surprising what you can use. I like flower pounding too
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Originally Posted by jaciqltznok
(Post 5083346)
do any of you gardeners grow flowers/herbs or vegetables just to use in dying fabrics?
I am adding some plants to the front perennial bed this year that will be just that. Plants for dying! I already use beets, carrots, onion skins, the usual stuff, but wanted to add some heirloom plants that would have been used back in the day! Of course 90% of the mordants used back then are not illegal to use but I will do what I can with Alum, salt, cream of tartar and vinegar! Here are my two fave sites for learning more about using plants for dying! http://www.pioneerthinking.com/craft...turaldyes.html this one you have to be careful and watch what mordants she recommends. In the UK they have different rules on mordants than our EPA does here! http://www.wildcolours.co.uk/ |
Originally Posted by Teddybear Lady
(Post 5083497)
What is a "mordant"? A preservative or something? I bet you have some pretty "earthy" colors from doing your own fabric dying.
I tend to go for the stranger colors, always looking for purple, orange, pink, and green...though most plants come out brown, gold, yellow..hehehe |
I haven't done any dyeing for years, but used to love experimenting with plants and tree barks. Heat and lack of water is a problem here in Western Australia, and where I live in the Darling Ranges the winds are punishing. Fortunately, mass plantings of natives as a wind break along with mulch, mulch and more mulch seem to result in less plant loss. Many herbs and plants I grow are most suitable for dyeing (and fortunately are not too "tender" to survive:).
Thanks for the links.....I have been seriously thinking about getting back into dyeing, Whilst there are so many fantastic fabrics available....hand dyes have a special charm about them. Happy gardening (sorry Master Gardening:)). Please share some pics of your dyed fabrics....you know how we are about pics. |
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yes, Master gardening..hehehe I planted over 30 varieties of flower seeds, 16 herbs, and 28 vegetables today!
Now to watch for them to grow while I work on the beds/pots, etc... Many of the plants for dying are also great butterfly/bee plants, so that helps in choosing what to plant! [ATTACH=CONFIG]321850[/ATTACH]this pix is of the front bed two years ago...most of that is now gone, except for the lavender and mums. I have 80' across to replant! |
Your garden was beautiful.Sorry you lost so much. I love gardening so your topic peeked my interest. The link was very interesting. I think I will have to try it this year.
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Very interesting!
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Interesting sites. I have never dyed fabric, but used to dye Easter eggs with "natural" stuff. That was fun. Of course didn't need mordants for eggs.
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I only grow gift plants and ones that come back every year. Summer heat and dryness here makes it very hard to grow anything. I have some flowering bushes also. So dry and hot last year I almost lost them too. I don't dry fabrics, no basement and I don't need the mess. I only want to make quilts.
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Your garden is beautiful. I wish I could grow things, but I don't have a green thumb and most of my yard is very sunny, so that kills plants. I have some luck with pots, so I think I will try again this year. I would love to see your yard this year.
Sue |
I'd like to see pictures of your dyed fabric with a note as to what plant you used for it's color. Sandy 64
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I absolutely love your flowr bed Jacquie!!! Wish my flower bed looked that nice! I have never dyed anything, yet. I think I need to read up on it and see if it's something I would like to try doing. Probably a lot of hard work!!!
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