I've only ever gotten scarlet pokeberry dye ONCE. ONCE! I mixed a little kapok into the wool when I spun that yarn and the pokeberry scarlet had very christmasy red and white markings. So for the record, kapok will not take up dye!
Thank you for this! I tried following Carol Leigh's recipe today but it all turned to brown when I heated up the berries. I wonder how it worked for her?! I'll definitely try your tips for a new batch tonight and hope for pinks :)
I’m so sorry it didn’t work the first time. I hope this video helps. I’ve messed around a little more and it really seems like you can’t make the process much shorter. The overnight soaks are key and no heat for the pinks. Keep me posted! :)
@@WildcraftDyeing You're definitely right and I'm so glad I found your video! :) I tried another batch (pre soaked fibers + berries) and let it all soak without heat. The colour is actually quite nice darker purple, so not bright pink that I was hoping for! Might be because the berries I picked were already wilting a little. I'll wash my fibers tomorrow to see the result and might do another batch if I can still find some fresh looking berries! Looks like it's a lot of trial and error but always exciting to experiment :)
Hmm, I think it depends on what you mean. At no point would I consider the dye vat to be edible but you can dye with it and use the fiber and the dyed fiber isn’t poisonous. I have a video on the ethics of natural dyeing that goes through dyeing with poisonous materials more. It’s on my channel if you’re interested.
I left a used-once no-heat pokeweed dye bath sitting on the deck for a week and a half. I tried to use it today with heat to get the red and orange but it stayed purple the entire time! Even up past 210 F! Thoughts? I'm bummed I didn't get the other colors but I'm curious to see if the heat will help or hinder the purple color light fastness. (Fellow Ecologist PhD turned natural dyer here btw 😄)
Yay!!! That’s awesome! Forest Science Aunties of the world unite. That is super interesting- it sounds like the colour set because at 210F the purple should have been toast. I’ll noodle on it. 🤔
something else to note is that pokeweed can cause rashes similar to poison ivy if handled without gloves, so be mindful around the plant when harvesting :)
Thank you, this is a very informative video!
My pleasure! Thank you so much. :)
Insane colors!
Right? I LOVE the fuschia with no heat. I have some year a friend did 10 years ago and it’s still super bright.
I've only ever gotten scarlet pokeberry dye ONCE. ONCE! I mixed a little kapok into the wool when I spun that yarn and the pokeberry scarlet had very christmasy red and white markings. So for the record, kapok will not take up dye!
Good to know! It’s so hard to dial into the exact colour with this dye.
Thank you for this! I tried following Carol Leigh's recipe today but it all turned to brown when I heated up the berries. I wonder how it worked for her?! I'll definitely try your tips for a new batch tonight and hope for pinks :)
I’m so sorry it didn’t work the first time. I hope this video helps. I’ve messed around a little more and it really seems like you can’t make the process much shorter. The overnight soaks are key and no heat for the pinks. Keep me posted! :)
@@WildcraftDyeing You're definitely right and I'm so glad I found your video! :) I tried another batch (pre soaked fibers + berries) and let it all soak without heat. The colour is actually quite nice darker purple, so not bright pink that I was hoping for! Might be because the berries I picked were already wilting a little. I'll wash my fibers tomorrow to see the result and might do another batch if I can still find some fresh looking berries! Looks like it's a lot of trial and error but always exciting to experiment :)
@slavkanovosad yay!!! So glad to hear you are getting in the pinks and purples. So glad to hear you are having fun dyeing. I do too! 💕 🧶 🍄🟫
Gorgeous colors! Is there any point in the dye making process where the dye is no longer poisonous?
Hmm, I think it depends on what you mean. At no point would I consider the dye vat to be edible but you can dye with it and use the fiber and the dyed fiber isn’t poisonous. I have a video on the ethics of natural dyeing that goes through dyeing with poisonous materials more. It’s on my channel if you’re interested.
I left a used-once no-heat pokeweed dye bath sitting on the deck for a week and a half. I tried to use it today with heat to get the red and orange but it stayed purple the entire time! Even up past 210 F! Thoughts? I'm bummed I didn't get the other colors but I'm curious to see if the heat will help or hinder the purple color light fastness. (Fellow Ecologist PhD turned natural dyer here btw 😄)
Yay!!! That’s awesome! Forest Science Aunties of the world unite. That is super interesting- it sounds like the colour set because at 210F the purple should have been toast. I’ll noodle on it. 🤔
Or Forest Science Non-gender specific beings of the world unite. Whatever works. :)
I left it to stew in the cooling dye bath and it did turn a darker purpley red after an hour or so. I'll play around with it some more. 😃
I think it’s the pit/seed of the berry that is poisonous. You can make pokeberry jam if you strain the seeds out.
Yes! There’s a whole rich history of it as a traditional food source. I’m such a chicken when it comes to covering the edibility of dye sources. :)
something else to note is that pokeweed can cause rashes similar to poison ivy if handled without gloves, so be mindful around the plant when harvesting :)
Definitely! Gloves and I’ve started using these gardening sleeves which I’m loving. Thanks for the note - safety needs to be #1.
I didn’t know this, I’ve been using it to stain my skin for years😭🤣