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Fields & Fire BlogPokeberry Dye
Little did we know last week that this week we would be under twenty inches of snow. But luckily, we went out last week and gathered pokeberries for some dyeing. Guided by the book Harvesting Color, Ella and I spent most of a day gathering, simmering, and simmering some more. We dyed one playsilk, and some washed wool from our sheep. Some day soon I should have a bunch of our own wool yarn coming back from a local spinning mill, and it will be coming back white . . . Let’s just say that white clothing and farming don’t mix well in my opinion, so it was time to learn how to dye. This went really, really, well, and I’m amazed by how deep the color on the wool turned out! Also, it was a great one to do with Ella, but I will say that pokeberries are poisonous, and I wouldn’t do this project with any child still young enough to be tempted to put things in their mouth.
Ben came along, as you can tell, and took a lot of photos. He got a new lens for our camera last week, and I will admit I was skeptical (being generally skeptical of any gadgetry purchase), but what can I say? He’s a genius, and it’s one of the best $100 we’ve ever spent. All of a sudden, we can take photos inside. Even in our poorly lit kitchen, where I have struggled for so long to get halfway decent shots. Craziness.
Pokeberry Dye! Hooray! I am so excited for you…I was always interested in dyeing, but never quite got there. Janan did a bit out at Middleton, in big iron pots over campfires!
The color is gorgeous – what did you use as a mordant to set the dye?
And the pics are terrific…but we need a snappy caption for that one of Ella with her arm outstretched!
Love you!
We have tried this, without such good results–I don’t think it takes as well with cotton. Pokeberries are not terribly poisonous, by the way, as I unwisely did it when my littlest was only 18 months and did indeed eat several berries. In a panic, I called Poison Control. He would have had to have eaten a lot to even have stomach problems…
What a beautiful color! Looks like fun all around. And lovely knitting projects in the future. Thanks for sharing these great photos!
Pokeberry makes gorgeous colors, but is generally fugitive to light. I’ve heard of some folks who have devised recipes they say hold the color, but alas don’t remember the secret. Best used for a project that won’t get much light on it so you can enjoy the color as long as possible.
Thanks for the squash pie recipe; I’m hoping to try it soon.
these pictures are beautiful–i especially love the one of you walking in the field. i can’t take good pictures in our house either (we have very low light, especially in the winter, thanks to living on the north-facing slope of a mountain). maybe i should let my husband talk me into buying that lens that he’s been telling me that i need?
i have always wanted to try natural dyeing, but i haven’t gotten around to it yet. we have a lot of pokeberries around here, so maybe i will have to give that a try in a year or two when i can trust my daughter not to eat them.
Beautiful color, and I LOVE that picture of your belly. When I was pregnant with Maida my midwife told me to take care to always keep my belly warm so the baby stayed in an optimal position (if she got cold, she might have rotated her back away from my front…) So I always had a sweater wrapped around, or even a little shawl. So many maternity sweaters have open fronts, you know. Anyways, 20 inches of snow in October is unbelievable to me. Hope you have a hefty wood pile, friend.
My children love playing with those berries – is the color colorfast?
I just love the photo of your beautiful belly.
Tonya,
As far as I know it is, but it’s my first time so I don’t really know yet! We used vinegar for our mordant to pre-soak the fibers, and also added vinegar to the pokeberry dye bath.
Blessings,
Adrie
Kyce,
Thanks! How interesting, especially since so many pregnancy books act like you’ll be so hot you won’t even need to own maternity sweaters. Ha, they don’t live here! Anyhow, I totally see what your midwife was saying.
Blessings,
Adrie
Meredith,
Lol, maybe you should let him buy it for you! Best of luck with it.
Blessings,
Adrie
Sue,
Well, keep your fingers crossed for us! Hope you enjoy the pie.
Blessings,
Adrie
Adele,
Thank you!
Grace,
Good to know!
Blessings,
Adrie
Mom,
We used vinegar for our mordant to pre-soak the fibers, and also added vinegar to the pokeberry dye bath.
Love,
Adrie