{"id":2572,"date":"2016-06-09T20:42:34","date_gmt":"2016-06-09T19:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/?p=2572"},"modified":"2016-06-10T20:06:48","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T19:06:48","slug":"natural-dyes-dandelion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/09\/natural-dyes-dandelion\/","title":{"rendered":"natural dyes, dandelion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- Quick Adsense WordPress Plugin: http:\/\/quickadsense.com\/ -->\n<div class=\"48e5397a39c6ea4ae31e40d674b2fea7\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- july 2019 -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-9380921822254336\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"9798147637\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2614\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2614\" style=\"width: 580px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2614\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0522-002.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"580\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0522-002.jpg 580w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0522-002-218x300.jpg 218w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0522-002-150x207.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0522-002-300x414.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 85vw, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2614\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">hedgerow treasure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lately I\u2019ve been thinking about trying to dye my own fabrics, but I wanted subtle shades, from natural dyes. I was drawn to the idea of solar dying but I was unsure if I wanted to invest time in a method which requires lengthy periods in the sunshine, a commodity not to be relied upon in the North of England, even in a good summer. I imagined a summer of hope followed by an autumn of disappointment as the solar dying technique failed to develop the results I hoped for. Nevertheless I fancied having a go at dyeing from natural materials.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2613\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2613\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2613\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0478-001.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0478-001.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0478-001-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0478-001-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0478-001-150x100.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0478-001-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2613\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">hedgerow pickings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I found a recipe for dyeing using dandelion heads, well they are plentiful enough at this time of year, so on a Sunday morning stroll with my sister I gathered a bag full of dandelion heads from the hedgerows near the local University. That afternoon I picked the petals from their heads and put them in a jar, added boiling water and letting them steep.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2615\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2615\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2615\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0480-001.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0480-001.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0480-001-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0480-001-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0480-001-150x100.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0480-001-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2615\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">petals like saffron stamens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I was really hopeful that I would get a good clear yellow. The strands of bright yellow made me think of saffron and stained my fingers bright yellow, surely this was going to work.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2616\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2616\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2616\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0482-001.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0482-001.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0482-001-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0482-001-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0482-001-150x100.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0482-001-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2616\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">yellow stained fingers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile I soaked some plain white cotton chintz (I just happened to have a whole bolt of it which had been hanging around in my studio for years) in warm water with a little Alum added, as a mordant ( to fix the dye).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2617\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2617\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0487-001.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2617\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0487-001.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0487-001-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0487-001-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0487-001-150x100.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0487-001-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2617\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">just petals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The instructions were to strain off the steeping liquid, add the fabric and microwave, in 2 minute bursts.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2583\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2583\" style=\"width: 534px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2583\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0526.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"534\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0526.jpg 534w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0526-200x300.jpg 200w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0526-150x225.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0526-300x449.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 534px) 85vw, 534px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2583\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Steep overnight in water<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I did as I was instructed, \u00a02 minutes, stir\u2026 2 minutes, stir\u2026 2 minutes\u2026 ad infinitum it seemed, but there was no discernible change in colour, well, what I had is not even the palest lemon yellow, a complete fail in my estimation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2585\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2585\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2585\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0574.jpg\" alt=\"Complete Fail ?\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0574.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0574-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0574-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0574-150x100.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0574-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2585\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Complete Fail ?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Undeterred I turned to an old favourite amongst natural dyes, Turmeric and white Vinegar. In a pan of boiling water I emptied half a jar of Turmeric, and a good glugg of white vinegar, and dropped on a metre of the same Chintz. The glorious yellow colour is what I had hoped for with only a fraction of the effort I\u2019d already expended on the dandelions to no avail.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2586\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2586\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2586\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0575.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0575.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0575-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0575-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0575-150x100.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0575-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2586\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">turmeric yellow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So what to do with the very disappointing length of dandelion yellow? I threw it down on the lawn, and while still hot and wet I sprinkled over it the rest of the jar of turmeric in the hope of achieving a two tone and speckled effect.\u00a0My plan was to leave it out all night, hoping it wouldn\u2019t rain, but not too concerned if it did, to see what the outcome would be.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2587\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2587\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2587\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0625.jpg\" alt=\"natural dyes\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0625.jpg 800w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0625-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0625-768x513.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0625-150x100.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IMG_0625-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2587\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">turmeric speckling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I was quite pleased with the result, a subtle speckling of yellow on a pale lemony background.\u00a0Next stop-Orange, onion skins are the best natural option, only one slight problem, my Dearest hates onions, so we never buy them. Anyone spare their onion skins please?<\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lately I\u2019ve been thinking about trying to dye my own fabrics, but I wanted subtle shades, from natural dyes. I was drawn to the idea of solar dying but I was unsure if I wanted to invest time in a method which requires lengthy periods in the sunshine, a commodity not to be relied upon &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/09\/natural-dyes-dandelion\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;natural dyes, dandelion&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11,998,323,735,447],"tags":[1001,999,1004,1005,1002,1003,1000,1006,84],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2572"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2618,"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572\/revisions\/2618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mycrosspatch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}