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A dyers diary

Peace Bauble

March 2022

There is no need for me to write about the challenges facing the world at this current time.  Knitting offers me comfort and solace whilst my mind is whirling. I have uploaded a free bauble pattern to the online shop with a thought that it may offer you comfort and solidarity.

https://shilasdair-yarns.com/product/peace-bauble/

 

 

Dyeing with Reeds (Phragmites australis or Cuilc in Gaelic)

September 2021

The common reed is a traditional Scottish dye plant that really conjures up the magic of natural dyes. The reeds like alkaline wet marshy land. Here on Skye they generally grow up  to about 1.5 metres although in less wild weather locations can reach up to 4 metres tall. The reed beds provide a thriving and safe home for so much wildlife. They are invasive and a real spreader once they take hold so not ideal for planting in your dye garden but if you can find a patch locally already taken hold I definitely recommend having a go and dyeing with the purple flower heads of this plant.

Research shows the roots, leaves and seeds of the reed as are all edible but I have never tried and wouldn’t recommend without further guidance!The reeds themselves have been used for so many things over time: roof thatching, basket making, broom making, paper making.  Here on Skye it has been documented that fishermen used the reed for rope making.

For the dye pot it is the unopened flower heads that we use, which here on Skye are purple and sleek in mid August but that may vary on where you live especially if you have a warmer climate. Once you have gathered your seed heads pop them in your pot, cover with water and heat slowly for about an hour – you will soon see a lovely purple liquor develop.  Allow it to cool and then add your yarn, fabric or other textiles to be dyed.  Our samples shown below are 100% wool mordanted with 12 % alum.  Heat the dye bath gently for another hour and you will see the wool takes up the colour readily. The lighter green sample was removed from the pot after and hour, the darker green was left in over night.

We then experimented with the ph – so often colours in the dye bath will shift depending on a low or high ph. By adding vinegar to the dye bath and lowering the ph to 3 we dyed another wool sample which remained purple and didn’t turn in to the beautiful greens above. This acidic dyed sample is not stable as a colour, but it is a fun experiment and a good example of how one dye pot can produce such different shades of colour depending on ph. Taking the science out of it I just love the magic of pulling different shades out of one pot!

Latest Entries
Bog MyrtleBog Myrtle
November 14, 2019Natural DyesBog myrtle Bog myrtle was one of the first dye plants that I experimented with many years ago using nothing but my intuition and limited dye knowledge. I was very free and easy with my methods but always got a pleasant result, and this in turn encouraged me on in my natural dye pursuits. Since these experiments I have researched and learnt a lot more about this Skye shrub that grows all around us here at Shilasdair. Bog myrtle or Myrica gale is a woody deciduous perennial shrub from the Myricaceae family. It thrives in damp or boggy soils, which explains why we have so much of it here! As with many of these ancient plants people have used them in the past for all sorts of uses – the Vikings are said to have used Bog myrtle to treat depression and poor memory and to give a sense of well-being. We use the leaves ourselves in a tea and on Skye it makes an excellent midge repellent. But it is for it’s secret dye colour that I have my strongest connection with the plant. We tend to harvest the bog myrtle in late August but it is still possible to sneak in a final forrage as late as October before the first frosts have arrived. We use not just the leaves but also the woody twigs and stems. Without these twigs a lovely warm yellow colour can be achieved. As can been seen above. Just an over nights soaking in cool peat water can produce a yellow dye – however further heating unlocks the rich tannins which will aid us in our pursuit of a richer colour. For it is the warm khaki green that we just love to get from bog myrtle. After long and slow heating we dye our fibre in the yellow dye liquor and then leave to cool over night. The following day we reheat the dye pot and do a post mordant iron bath where we add just 2 % of dissolved ferrous sulphate. Bringing the pot back up to a low heat for 20 minutes the colour transforms before our eyes to a warm khaki green – soft and earthy it is all the more special for coming from under our feet on the hills here on Skye. [...]

Instagram

❄️sheep on the move- everything about this I l ❄️sheep on the move- everything about this I love - colour inspiration 🐑❄️💙
#isleofskye 
#acrofterslife 
#sheepinthesnow
✨the mindfulness cowl ✨thank you so much for ✨the mindfulness cowl 
✨thank you so much for all the orders for this lovely cowl kit - it can be either knitted or crocheted and is a beautifully rhythmic make designed by @madewithloops using our brand new Anam dk yarn hand dyed here on Skye using natural spring water (sales pitch!)
✨I took this photo last week before all the snow arrived. Everything is still white here this morning-woolly wearing season is still very much with us!
✨have a lovely weekend everyone 😊❄️✨

#isleofskye
#quiraing 
#mindfulnesscowl 
#naturallydyed 
#plantdyed
✨the mindfulness cowl ✨the kits are now live i ✨the mindfulness cowl
✨the kits are now live in the online shop.. follow the link in my bio
✨so delighted to release these into the world.
✨designed by the ever talented Heike from @madewithloops this rhythmical pattern flows along beautifully with increases and decreases. Just enough to focus the mind but not too much to need concentration or stress.
✨there are two styles of patterns to choose from.. crochet or knitted. I enjoyed making both and seeing how the same effect could be created using wool and different shapes sticks!
✨there are two colour ways to choose from:
✨’Glow’ using meadowsweet and madder plants to give a bright and cheery yellow and red.
✨’Frost’ here the yarn is dyed with indigo for deep and medium blues 💙
✨all made with our brand new yarn base Anam.. a squishy, woolly dk yarn 😘✨🧶

#mindfulnesscowl 
#isleofskyenaturaldyecompany 
#crochet 
#knitting_inspiration
✨introducing ‘Anam’ our new dk yarn base.
✨Anam is Gaelic for soul and life’s breath and is a celebration of the life Simo and I have made together! Yes it is that cheesy!!!
✨it is 70% merino (representing Simo who is Australian) and 30 % Scottish Shetland fibre ( representing me!) 
It’s smooth and buttery but warm and woolly! We couldn’t be more delighted with it. Spun by our usual mill in England it is a wonderful yarn to work with and we hope you enjoy it.
✨Anam will be making its debut in the mindfulness cowl kits designed for us by @madewithloops and released tomorrow 😊

#knittersofinstagram 
#naturallydyed 
#plantdyedyarn 
#slowtextiles
🧶Here is a close up of the finished mindfulness 🧶Here is a close up of the finished mindfulness cowls designed by @madewithloops and made with our new yarn base ‘Anam’. 
🧶Heike has cleverly designed a crochet version and knitted version. 
🧶I’ll tell you a bit more about our lovely ‘Anam’ yarn tomorrow and kits released on Thursday 10.00 am xx

#anamyarn 
#knittingaddict 
#crochetaddict
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