• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Shilasdair Yarns

Naturally Dyed Yarn on the Isle of Skye

Basket (0)Checkout
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Yarns
    • Natural Dyes
  • Visit Shop
  • Workshops & Retreats
  • Come and Stay
  • A dyers diary
  • Location
  • Contact Us
  • Buy Online

Natural Dyes

Bog Myrtle

Entered on November 14, 2019

Bog 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.

Filed Under: Natural Dyes

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
Follow Me!

Footer

Find Us

Shilasdair Yarn,
Culnacnoc,
Isle of Skye,
Portree IV51 9JH,

Tel: 01470 562248

Email: hello@shilasdair-yarns.com

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Our Yarns

  • Visit Shop
  • Buy Online
  • Yarns
  • FAQ

Glenview-skyepiecafe
Glenview-skyepiecafe

© 2023 · Shilasdair Yarns · Website Design Isle of Skye by West Coast Media