Wednesday 5 June 2013

woolly wednesday - June





Currently I've been working with some fellow artists for a show as part of Somerset Art Weeks - using both my fibre work and my ceramics. This month I've been experimenting with the natural dyes around me. Buttercups are abundant in the meadow near my studio and they produce a pretty subtle yellow. I mordanted with alum and cream of tartar and solar dyed over a 48 hours period. The yarn is spun from Portland on my new (!) wheel - I can't wait to use it in a bigger piece later in the year. 

This is cross posted in Somerset Stitched - a blog following our creative journey towards Art Weeks in the autumn....


16 comments:

  1. I love photos of yarn hanging drying with garden views in the background.

    Wow to the buttercups, never thought of using them - I wonder how colourfast they will be? Lovely subtle yellow, buttery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No idea how lightfast - but I'm loving the colour!!!

      Delete
  2. This is lovely, the colour is gorgeous.
    M x

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful colour really buttery - off now to pick some buttercups!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure how lightfast it will be but it'll be part of a larger piece hopefully hung in a gallery!

      Delete
  4. Amazing! I never knew buttercups produced dye. I am so enjoying your spinning/dyeing adventures. Can't wait to see how it looks knitted up into something. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't know either - it was an experiment!

      Delete
  5. Amazing that the buttercups have yeilded such a pretty colour. And your pictures look so pretty too - I love the way the flowers are clinging to the skein as you lift it up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! - I'm now picking bits of flower out of the skein but I didn't extract the dye beforehand as I didn't want a flat colour. I've got a whole list of plants I want to try....

      Delete
  6. Beautiful! I'll be on the lookout for buttercups too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very pretty and interesting post!! I just love the buttery color and the natural way to produce it. Buttercups are one of my favorite flowers and just as soon as they start blooming here I will have to try this too! Your pictures are lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Looks gorgeous. That is a beautiful butter color. Things are looking wonderful in your world! Have a lovely weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. How on earth did I miss this! I have been doing a lot of natural dyeing recently to ... dandelions and cabbage shoots here this week :D

    ReplyDelete

hello! thank you for taking the time to comment - I love reading them all!