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This is a quick blog to tell you more about dyeing with weld – one of our most ancient and powerful of dye plants. Until the 1930’s it was still commercially grown in this country and I hope one day we will return to it as it is so very generous in colour and so useful as a base for making lots of other colour – most especially green when it is combined with woad.
It’s just coming into season now and is very easy to grow – liking poor soils but you can also find it growing wild along rivers and hedgerows. You can also order it dried from places like George Weil
1)To begin – chop up the weld. It’s the stems and leaves that give most colour.
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2) Make a bundle and add to an old pan
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3) Cover with hot water and gradually bring to the boil – you will smell and see the wonderful yellow seeping through, it’s magic! Keep the dye bath on a simmer as the colour is released from the plant material.
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4) Prepare the cloth you want to dye by wetting it thorougly. Then add it to the dye bath.
5) Keep the bath at a simmer and move the cloth around so that it takes the colour evenly.
6) Carry on until you are happy with the colour – remember it will dry a shade lighter.
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Do get in touch with any questions. Hope this goes really well for you and you have fun, Sarah x