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Dyeing with Devil’s Beggarticks

hand dyed yarns and fabric
Last week, I met a stranger on the side of the road to score some weed. Devil’s Beggarticks is the weed, by the way. The stranger was a friend of a friend who was offering up some of this aggressive plant to anyone who wanted to dye with it. I’m so glad I tried it out. 

 

 

Two batches: the first was flowers and leaves and the second batch was leaves and stems. I don’t think there’s much of a difference: the wool from the stem batch is a little lighter. 

I soaked one piece of cotton and one hank of embroidery floss in milk and water for each batch to see if it made a difference. All of the fiber is mordanted but milk supposedly acts as a binder and I wanted to run a little, unscientific test. I think it made a difference. The darker pieces are the milk soaked ones. Really specifically, it was a little milk and mostly water. 

The wool is overdyed, I used the batch I had solar dyed with Curly Dock seeds. It’s so vibrant!!

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One Week Left!!

Just dyeing my batiks a little. Check out all those colors!  They will all be blue by and by. #blog | July 09, 2017 at 02:06PM
Just dyeing my batiks a little. Check out all those colors! They will all be blue by and by. #blog

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One Week Left!!

If you're waiting till the last minute to sign up for the Deep Into Indigo Retreat, it's time!  It's one week away!!!!! Yikes!  I'm getting ready to dye your goody bags. 💙💙💙❤️❤️❤️ #blog | July 07, 2017 at 11:33AM
If you’re waiting till the last minute to sign up for the Deep Into Indigo Retreat, it’s time! It’s one week away!!!!! Yikes! I’m getting ready to dye your goody bags. 💙💙💙❤️❤️❤️ #blog

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Gus Knows What’s Up

I plan to bring this to the Deep Into Indigo Retreat, just to show off. But Gus is pretty sure that I'm done for the day and that I'm hand quilting this queen sized, hand dyed quilt just for him. #blog | June 26, 2017 at 11:22AM
I plan to bring this to the Deep Into Indigo Retreat, just to show it off.

But Gus is pretty sure that I’m done for the day and that I’m hand quilting this queen sized, hand dyed quilt just for him.

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Indigo Update!

Deep Into Indigo Retreat Westby Wisconsin Shibori

My plan for the Deep Into Indigo Retreat is to teach shibori techniques of many kinds, batik techniques and how to make henna, fructose and iron vats and to dye, dye dye!!! And also to -with the help of the awesome Jenina Mella - feed people well in a beautiful and warm environment and bring the fun!! I hope you'll join us. Early bird pricing ends on June 15th!!! Check my bio for the link. Today, I'm dyeing fat quarters on this beautiful summer day. #blog | June 08, 2017 at 11:04AM
My plan for the Deep Into Indigo Retreat is to teach shibori techniques of many kinds, batik techniques and how to make henna, fructose and iron vats and to dye, dye dye!!! And also to – with the help of the awesome Jenina Mella – feed people well in a beautiful and warm environment and bring the fun!!

I hope you’ll join us. Early bird pricing ends on June 15th!!! 

Today, I’m dyeing fat quarters on this beautiful summer day. #blog

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Indigo Update!

I've got a cold but Gus and my latest quilt are making me feel a little better. #blog | May 27, 2017 at 07:20PM
I’ve got a cold but Gus and my latest quilt are making me feel a little better. #blog

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Indigo Update!

Shy daughter-model showing off these loverly indigo dyed, shibori-ed dress and socks. #blog | May 22, 2017 at 12:57PM
Shy daughter-model showing off these loverly indigo dyed, shibori-ed dress and socks. #blog

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Indigo Update!

I went to Seattle to take a natural indigo vat making class with Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors. I learned a lot about different kinds of indigo vats. I think I like the henna vat the most. Everyone was awesome. I took the class with artist @stephanielsykes, who was a hoot! I looooooove learning new stuff. @botanicalcolors #blog | April 17, 2017 at 04:22PM
I went to Seattle to take a natural indigo vat making class with Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors. I learned a lot about different kinds of indigo vats. I think I like the henna vat the most. Everyone was awesome. I took the class with artist Stephanie Sykes who was a hoot! I looooooove learning new stuff.

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Dark Side

I took the batch of shirts that I dyed last week back into my indigo vat at Paradigm Gardens to redip. They got sooooooo dark! I took the batch of shirts that I dyed last week back into my #indigo vat @paradigmgardens to redip. They got sooooooo dark! Woohoo! That's one of the awesome super powers of indigo dye. The more times to dip your fabric in, the darker it gets. #blueandwhite #darkside #madisonwi #cotton #handdyed #blog. Now they will hang fora few days before I wash them. | February 05, 2016 at 01:53PM
Woohoo! That’s one of the awesome super powers of indigo dye. The more times to dip your fabric in, the darker it gets. Now they will hang for a few days before I wash them.