I loved seeing the whole process from ripping your shins gathering nuts, to the gorgeous colors that the walnuts produced. Thanks for explaining why you were doing everything. That cream of tartar shifted fiber is going to be beautiful yarn, for sure. You are making me think it’s time to scout for some walnut trees! harpingJanet
Back in the 1970s as a little girl, my mother told me that walnuts can be used to dye. So all on my own, I dropped whole walnuts (mostly soft black ones) into one of the buckets that I used to play in my sandbox and added water. The next day I added fabric scraps from an old sheet let them soak with an occasional stir with a stick just to check the color changes. In probably less than an hour I got a rich brown. So, I have to wonder if all the processing and extra steps that walnut dyers use today are even necessary as I did none of them. LOL
That is a great story. Sounds like we may be close in age! For fabric, I bet you don’t need as much. For spinning fiber you don’t want to felt the fiber or have to deal with picking all the debris out.
I loved seeing the whole process from ripping your shins gathering nuts, to the gorgeous colors that the walnuts produced. Thanks for explaining why you were doing everything. That cream of tartar shifted fiber is going to be beautiful yarn, for sure. You are making me think it’s time to scout for some walnut trees! harpingJanet
Thanks, Janet! You should definitely forage for some black walnuts next fall! It’s so fun and easy!
Loved this video! Thanks for sharing Kirsten.
Thank you, Carol, for watching! Spin Happy! 😃
Back in the 1970s as a little girl, my mother told me that walnuts can be used to dye. So all on my own, I dropped whole walnuts (mostly soft black ones) into one of the buckets that I used to play in my sandbox and added water. The next day I added fabric scraps from an old sheet let them soak with an occasional stir with a stick just to check the color changes. In probably less than an hour I got a rich brown. So, I have to wonder if all the processing and extra steps that walnut dyers use today are even necessary as I did none of them. LOL
That is a great story. Sounds like we may be close in age! For fabric, I bet you don’t need as much. For spinning fiber you don’t want to felt the fiber or have to deal with picking all the debris out.