Fellow Natural Dyer here! If you are able to dry the Husks of the walnut in the fall, you can save them to dye all during winter when they aren't available(Here in Canada at least) they give the same colour as they do when they are fresh! As well, Walnut's have the ability to Plant based fibres as well, so Cotton and Linen are possible. A good way to get huge pot is to either get a canning pot, or to go to a second-hand store and just buy the biggest pot available. A lot of flowers when used for Natural Dyes I find give better colours when Solar Dyed in Large (1 Liter) glass jars. Fruit Dyes, Strawberries, Blueberries,(I think Billberries are the European version) Cherries, are best by simmering the dye bath for 30 minutes, then letting it steep for roughly 8 hours, then adding fibres, simmering briefly, then leaving for a two or so hours. Cherries make a soft purple, Strawberries make a soft Pink, Blueberries a soft purple, but with some baking soda a green-ish colour. For both of these you don;'t want the heat to be too hot. Here I'm just going to list Dyestuff that's commonly available: Red Onion: If solar dyed for a week make a soft olive green, on Wool with Alum. Yellow Onion Skins: Give a Burnt Orange if used in a high ratio, one of the natural dyes that gives a similar colour on Plant based Fibres. Goldenrod: Not sure if it's available In Europe, but It gives the brightest yellow when the Dye stuff is cooked and alum and the wool is added to the dye bath together Most Herbs will give a soft yellow-green if attempted to dye with. Apple Tree: If you break some of the branches it will give a strong yellow colour. Tansy: Also a Yellow Privet Berries: Will give a blue, A teal, and a Sea-foam Green, if picked at different times of the year. This plant is a winter dye-plant and is best used from December to the end of January. Jewelweed/tocuh-me-nots: Is a plant i'm pretty sure is native to North America, might not be available to you, However it will give an Orange colour. Daffodils: If picked when the flower heads are dried, and solar dyed will give a strong and very pretty yellow, I leave them for a week, and the smell is terrible once opened, but the colour is beautiful. Since this one requires a large amount flower heads, unless you are overrun with Daffodils I'd recommend using it on a small amount of wool or yarn. Dame's Rocket,:the flowers can give a blue-ish colour too, solar dyed for two days, and the dye bath should look like a strong purple colour before hand, then simmered for 30 minutes, then the fibres added for 30 minutes and simmered. Willow twigs: Give a soft Orange, if the dye stuff is left to steep overnight, after being heated for an hour. Rose of Sharon: Will give soft teal; Dyebath: 30 minutes simmered, an hour and half left to steep, dye fibres for 30 minutes, leave for an hour. this one is interesting because like Indigo it needs to be exposed to air to show the colour, after you take it out of the bath. It is possible to get some shades of blue without using Indigo: Some Dark Red Lilies, cooked with the usual matter, of one hour heat for dyestuff, Wool and Alum together for an hour, then together for roughly an hour. Blue Potatoes, will also make a blue if done in the same way as the lilies. Rose of Sharon as well will give a If you have a dyestuff that should give a blue-ish colour but for whatever reason is not, you can add some baking soda and it will turn it into a lime-ish Green colour. (Note: Not Indigo, Do not use with Indigo) In regards to the Overdyeing of Green, Weld and Indigo: Yellow First, then blue gives a more standard plant colour green, while the other way gives a more teal green. If you are planning on doing a lot of natural dyeing, and if you don't have one already a Dyebook is also helpful. That way you can add any new plants you find in the field, and how you did it, so you can repeat the process later. Also, YES more plant dyeing video's please! It's exciting to see someone around my age as excited about natural dyeing as I am!
@@woodenkat8971 I've never used Woad, but here's a link to a blog someone else made about Woad: wooltribulations.blogspot.com/2013/06/making-woad-dye-from-plant-to-wool.html
Thank you for all this information 😍 Why I didn't mentioned more than those plants in the video was just because I wanted to focus on the plants that we now was used for dyeing with in history. But of course there's so much more to explore when it comes to this. Thank you again!
me too! It looks like the exact skirt I would wear all the time if I had the confidence too (and the money to buy it, it seems like a wool skirt, beautifully done!)
I used dandelion roots one summer because there were dandelions.... everywhere that year. Made a really nice tan brown I must say 10/10 would dye again
You just harvest and simmer the roots (or the flowers if you want yellowish). Never boil it. Just like with any plant dye. I left mine to steep in a jar of water at the widnowsill for a few days beforehand.
If you want to do more dyeing in the future, check out home brewing supply websites, they sell 20L, 35L, and 55L pots (there’s probably other sizes, but those are pretty common)
in agreement..if you KNOW you are planning on doing some dyeing then invest in much larger saucepans..why make your job harder..??? besides, they always come in handy for other tasks..
I love your videos! Thank you! I do have a tip, I didn't read the other comments so I don't know if anyone else suggested this. I am an artist and I use dyes and other things that have to be heated. I went to a thrift store and bought inexpensive pots and cookware and labeled them "For Art Only, Not For Food". I keep these utensils stored in a bin away from my cookware that I use for preparing meals. The bin is also labeled "For Art Only, Not For Food". This keeps me from damaging the tools that I bought for food preparation. Also, just in case there is something in the art medium that is not safe for consuming, keeping separate pots and things keeps me from risking contaminating anything. Because they don't really need to be nice or expensive for making art, I am able to get second hand or lower priced stock pots that are much larger than I would use for cooking. I also found a camping stove at a thrift store so I can work outside and not make a mess in my kitchen. Thank you for your videos!
One thing you can do with madder, weld, and other similar plants is a cold dye. Use that white bucket you transferred your wool in and fill it with the right amount of water and madder root, or weld etc and then leave it for a week or so. That way you can achieve the bright colours along with an even dye! I would also recommend soaking your fabric with a mordant first if you want it to take up brighter colours.
Well done! I love experimenting with plants & seeing what colours I can get. My only suggestion is to be aware if the dye is “food safe”. I have used flowers to dye & then found out they were poisonous so now I only use that pot for dyes not food. (But food safe plants you can use the pots for food). That is such a beautiful piece of fabric!
Omg Elin! You are the most pure and genuine person on TH-cam! I really like the honesty and realism you show. Like at 6:20 when you knock the lid to the pan and then the expression on your face... That would happen to just about anyone, but instead of editing it out, you left it in your video's, which makes them a whole lot more relatable and approachable. (btw, it also reminded me of Rapunzel in the movie Tangled, when she knocks her frying pan to her head after she captured Flynn Rider..) It's a joy to follow you on your journey through historical re-enactment and historical clothing manufacturing. On a whole unrelated note, I absolutly love the grey skirt you are wearing from 11:34 onward. I wouldn't hesitate if I could buy the same one for myself somewhere in the Netherlands.
As I watched this I was knitting a sontag I dyed with onion skins and walnut. I usually soak my walnuts (husk, nut and all, mostly because they are black walnuts and I wasn't sure how good they are/am lazy) in water to ferment for a couple weeks or months. It gives me a super-rich dark brown that I love.
I have a very useful book on natural dyes. It's called Wild Color by a lovely woman named Jenny Dean. It divides plants and other natural dyestuffs up by color, larked with swatches at the edge of pages. Also lists different methods of fixing the dye like vinegar, alum, copper and iron baths, etc. Can't recommend it enough. My friends and I have made yellow with onion skins, pink with lichens (and a urea mordant that I wouldn't recommend), and a gorgeous golden orange with turmeric. When handling any of this stuff, it's a good idea to wear gloves. If it's meant to dye clothes, it will definitely stain your fingers. Many of the dyes and mordant baths can be irritating to skin, too, so make sure you're careful!
You and Jonna Jinton have a lot in common. Both from Sweden both blonde young artists and into plant based pigments. She makes them for painting her artwork and you are attempting simply a different type of artwork. I just want to applaud you for being a rare young person who still values the old traditional sewing weaving and dying skills.
A charming example - and I love the color. Where I live, we leave the walnuts out on a country gravel driveway to dry and then drive a car over them to crack the nuts out.
That is a most glorious shade of deep tannish, russety brown. Just love it! Elin watching you work is so magical and I love how fearless you are and even in your nervousness you carry on regardless of the glitches you face each time you do one of these dye baths. (Also you are just so entertaining and enlightening.) Keep going with your dye experiments as they are so inspirational!
I love this!! I'm making my own kirtle (based off of your video, so thank you for that too!!) for a medieval festival in June, but I've been to my local sewing stores and I didn't like the colours they had/didn't know what kind of colour I wanted to use, I really want to try plant dyeing now because the colour you made is gorgeous
I LOVED how you were looking for the stove top. It just felt like an issue I would go through, doing the same. The way of editing your video brought up the right emotions to the viewer. Your proud face when you showed the beautiful end result is so great! thank you for this video!
I love the final color! And it's okay if you aren't an expert, you are a very capable person who can handle unexpected obstacles. Take pride and confidence in what you do, you are awesome! 😁😁😁
I'd call that colour russet! It came out beautifully though. It looked like that strainer worked pretty well for this, but if you have something finer that you want to strain you could line it with a piece of thin scrap fabric. You'll have to be patient, but it'll keep all the bits out!
Love!! Please make more videos like this 😁 I love plant dyeing, and you are my favorite creative lass on TH-cam! I have limited experience in dyeing, but i loved making little samples of cotton that i used plants/vegetables/fruit to create. Tea and coffee also make lovely color's too.
That is an amazing color and you should be so proud of yourself! I've been too nervous to dye, and I think that needs to stop. I love how you throw yourself into your projects and just make them happen.
Love the colour! I have some tips I would like to share.This is some of the things I do when dyeing wool yarn. 1. Wash the fabric/yarn with wool sope, then soak it in cold water before dyeing, this will help securing a more even colour. (30-60 min) 2. If you have pots enough, heat up the fabric alongside the dyeing pot. This will ensure the same temperature in the fabric and the colour bath when you transfer the fabric to the dyeing pot, this is better for the wool. 3. The use of a mordant will give stronger and more light resistant colours. The different mordants also give their own caracteristicks to the colour = more colour options. I think walnut naturally has some mordant in it but I'm not sure. 4. Colouring with mushrooms is also really fun and you can get colours from earthy browns, reds, green, grey to intense purple and baby pink . but as mentioned earlier: Please use separate cooking and colouring utensils as some colours and mordants are toxic. There is a Swedish woman (don't remember the name) who has written a really good book on dyeing with mushrooms.
My husband gave me a woollen scarf in a slightly deeper version of that colour years ago, and we used it as the inspiration for the drawing room in a Georgian house we used to own in Scotland. Although we colour matched professionally the paint came up quite red on the walls due to the south facing light. It was sumptuous (and was even on an interiors programme and in a few newspaper articles). I've still got the scarf and it's one of my treasured possessions.
Welcome to"" the strange in between shades"" club. This colour is cognac a very beautiful traditional colour that I have not seen in decades. truly lovely.
I can't speak to the dye-process, but I wanted to say that your humor, video editing, and very upbeat way of doing things is amazing to watch. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more videos! Its great to see someone young doing historical things, speaking as another younger person. Keep up the great work and stay safe- may your stitches be straight and your dyes well-colored!
Absolutely amazing. That's a beautiful color of rust. Very organic and true. Thank you for such a beautiful channel that I stumbled across this morning I'm still amazed at our sisters and brothers from Sweden and reconnecting back to our roots.
This is so much fun to see! As a knitter, I have been on and off about natural dyeing. But, I am super tempted to try now! Don't worry about being a beginner. It is still fun to see people try new things!
Absolutely, but I have searched and looked for one for almost 2 years. They are quite hard to find here in Sweden, and those who I do find are very expenssive. I hope I can buy a bigger pot some day, but this will do for now😊
@@elinabrahamsson9442 It might be cheaper to take a trip to Germany or another country - the more east you go, the better for your wallet! Seriously, in the Czech Republic for example, every decent houseware shop has at least 20 l pots - when you come in summer, you get better prices, because that is our main canning season (we love our pickles and jams). :P
I love your videos! Your personality, the cinematography, the music, the way you stumble through each project with an uncertain determination, I love all of it!
I have a black walnut tree next door, and up against my fence. I call it the Zombie tree because it has been completely cut down twice in the last 30 years and it missed now very tall with many side trunks! The tree people told me it lives mainly underground in its roots! Love that I’ve found your videos. You make me want to go to an event all dressed in new, hand stitched clothes!
That skirt you are wearing is absolutely amazing! Where is it from? Did you make it yourself? Also, if you want to get the most out of your dying efforts, dye several pieces of fabric or dye yarn in the same water (the same colour soup). The shade of the colour lightens with each dye and gives amazing colours, for instance madder gives the most beautiful shades of pink after a few dyes.
That color turned out beautifully! I love warm earthy colors. It was super interesting watching the process of plant dying, I totally want to try it out some time!
Earth tones. Gotta love 'em. I've never tried doing natural dyes...and I've never heard of some of which you refer (Weld or Madder). What little I have gleaned from TH-cam is that Turmeric is fantastic for producing bright yellow. The piece that you did here is beautiful! I could see making a hooded poncho out of that. Any wool blend is always good at fending off the cold. I'm in the Pacific Northwest of America (where it is most likely to be wet and cold during the winter) and such a garment would be a nice thing to add to One's closet!
But probably not Black Walnuts, which I think is what she is using here. :) They are expensive and difficult to source. The shells are nearly impossible to crack open! Even the squirrels give up often.
Aside from all the other glorious aspects of this video, the hunt for a stove is SO REAL lol. When my mother got an induction stove like yours she had to give me all her cookware that wouldn't work on it so she wouldn't accidentally try to use it. (which is a big yay for me because it's much better quality than I could afford to buy for myself right now, but was definitely a big bummer for her until she realized that meant she could get herself some new fancy pieces too!)
Beautiful colour. I enjoy how you don't give in when you run into a challenge. That is what my daughter says about me. I always have a plan B ....or C...or...you get the idea. I shall share something. I am old enough to be your grandmother. I have had a wild adventure of a life. One of the most useful things that has helped me through life is that gift I see in you. With this attitude, you will do well, wherever life takes you.
Hi Elin, I discovered your videos two days ago...(boooouh). I found them really great and refreshing , just like you. This night I dreamt about a petrol-blue kirtle...I woke up craving for linen and threads :) My daughter (11 years old) asked me several weeks ago about dying with plants. I think I will show her your success (and translate it, we're french). Thanks for your work and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
As spontaneous and happy as you are, you make me think of a live Rapunzel ;) Thank you for sharing this experiment and for reminding us how fun it is to try out something new. Your colour is gorgeous, you did great !
This is super entertaining, I've always been terrified to dye so I appreciate that someone in this world who isn't an expert is making video content to give me hope. :)
This was really interesting to watch, great work! I didn't really know much about dying clothes naturally and for some reason it had never occurred to me that people in the past would double-dye clothes to get combination colours :).
I've been binge watching your videos. That are amazing. You have so much energy and enthusiasm. I've really been appreciating your editing and topics. I think its brilliant you share the ups and downs of your process it's really refreshing. I can't wait for more videos :)
Hello, Bri here from Canada 👋 Just wanted to say I love your videos and your enthusiasm!! I have just recently started handsewing for historical reenactment and there is nothing I love more than to sit down with a cup of tea, pull out my sewing and put your videos on!! I am also focusing on late 12th century early 13th century Germany so I thought it was more than a coincidence that your video popped up in my feed! Keep up the great work sista and I look forward to your future videos!!
I'm sure someone has already mentioned it but I haven't seen it in the comments that I have read....you should always wet the fabric before you put it into the dye. The water will help the dye travel into the fiber more evenly. Also, I noticed that someone mentioned getting a canning pot for a bigger pot. This is fine BUT, most of them are aluminum and it will change the color of your dye! Metals like aluminum, copper and iron will all make the exact same dye come out a different color! It's so fun to see what you end up with and you have made a gorgeous piece of fabric! Good job.
Thank you! Yes dampen the fabric before is something I knew, but when I was recording this, I had so much in my head so details like that just completely fell away. You're right, dampen the fabric before is important, and should be done!
@@elinabrahamsson9442 - an enameled canning pot is the best choice. They are relatively inexpensive and can often be found at second hand stores. Just be certain the enamel isn't chipped or scratched on the inside
@@EsmereldaPea Yes, and also it would work on an induction stovetop. I assume that's why your large pot didn't work and you had to go get the portable stovetop? Most large soup pots are aluminum, which you do NOT want for this.
Wow! That's such a gorgeous colour! I love plant dying and I really want to try it myself. Its so magical to watch the colour develop and you're never quite sure how it will turn out when it's done. Your videos are always so fun to watch and this one was really great
Your plant dye turned out so pretty. I would love to try the same process. Please include more content on natural dyes. This is very interesting. Thanks. 🐦
Fellow Natural Dyer here! If you are able to dry the Husks of the walnut in the fall, you can save them to dye all during winter when they aren't available(Here in Canada at least) they give the same colour as they do when they are fresh! As well, Walnut's have the ability to Plant based fibres as well, so Cotton and Linen are possible. A good way to get huge pot is to either get a canning pot, or to go to a second-hand store and just buy the biggest pot available.
A lot of flowers when used for Natural Dyes I find give better colours when Solar Dyed in Large (1 Liter) glass jars.
Fruit Dyes, Strawberries, Blueberries,(I think Billberries are the European version) Cherries, are best by simmering the dye bath for 30 minutes, then letting it steep for roughly 8 hours, then adding fibres, simmering briefly, then leaving for a two or so hours. Cherries make a soft purple, Strawberries make a soft Pink, Blueberries a soft purple, but with some baking soda a green-ish colour.
For both of these you don;'t want the heat to be too hot.
Here I'm just going to list Dyestuff that's commonly available:
Red Onion: If solar dyed for a week make a soft olive green, on Wool with Alum.
Yellow Onion Skins: Give a Burnt Orange if used in a high ratio, one of the natural dyes that gives a similar colour on Plant based Fibres.
Goldenrod: Not sure if it's available In Europe, but It gives the brightest yellow when the Dye stuff is cooked and alum and the wool is added to the dye bath together
Most Herbs will give a soft yellow-green if attempted to dye with.
Apple Tree: If you break some of the branches it will give a strong yellow colour.
Tansy: Also a Yellow
Privet Berries: Will give a blue, A teal, and a Sea-foam Green, if picked at different times of the year. This plant is a winter dye-plant and is best used from December to the end of January.
Jewelweed/tocuh-me-nots: Is a plant i'm pretty sure is native to North America, might not be available to you, However it will give an Orange colour.
Daffodils: If picked when the flower heads are dried, and solar dyed will give a strong and very pretty yellow, I leave them for a week, and the smell is terrible once opened, but the colour is beautiful. Since this one requires a large amount flower heads, unless you are overrun with Daffodils I'd recommend using it on a small amount of wool or yarn.
Dame's Rocket,:the flowers can give a blue-ish colour too, solar dyed for two days, and the dye bath should look like a strong purple colour before hand, then simmered for 30 minutes, then the fibres added for 30 minutes and simmered.
Willow twigs: Give a soft Orange, if the dye stuff is left to steep overnight, after being heated for an hour.
Rose of Sharon: Will give soft teal; Dyebath: 30 minutes simmered, an hour and half left to steep, dye fibres for 30 minutes, leave for an hour. this one is interesting because like Indigo it needs to be exposed to air to show the colour, after you take it out of the bath.
It is possible to get some shades of blue without using Indigo: Some Dark Red Lilies, cooked with the usual matter, of one hour heat for dyestuff, Wool and Alum together for an hour, then together for roughly an hour. Blue Potatoes, will also make a blue if done in the same way as the lilies. Rose of Sharon as well will give a
If you have a dyestuff that should give a blue-ish colour but for whatever reason is not, you can add some baking soda and it will turn it into a lime-ish Green colour. (Note: Not Indigo, Do not use with Indigo)
In regards to the Overdyeing of Green, Weld and Indigo: Yellow First, then blue gives a more standard plant colour green, while the other way gives a more teal green.
If you are planning on doing a lot of natural dyeing, and if you don't have one already a Dyebook is also helpful. That way you can add any new plants you find in the field, and how you did it, so you can repeat the process later.
Also, YES more plant dyeing video's please! It's exciting to see someone around my age as excited about natural dyeing as I am!
WOW!!! Thanks so much for your expertise.
This is the most informative comment of my life. Its weird this video came up. I was just discussing natural dye for a wall hanging yesterday...
Dyers woad is an invasive species where I live. How do I use that?
@@woodenkat8971 I've never used Woad, but here's a link to a blog someone else made about Woad: wooltribulations.blogspot.com/2013/06/making-woad-dye-from-plant-to-wool.html
Thank you for all this information 😍 Why I didn't mentioned more than those plants in the video was just because I wanted to focus on the plants that we now was used for dyeing with in history. But of course there's so much more to explore when it comes to this. Thank you again!
Also, I love the cute grey skirt you're wearing.
I wonder where she bought it
Me too!
I was about to comment the same thing... it’s so beautiful!
Ryoko Dragomir same here.
me too! It looks like the exact skirt I would wear all the time if I had the confidence too (and the money to buy it, it seems like a wool skirt, beautifully done!)
In English, a good word for this colour would be russet! It's glorious
I used dandelion roots one summer because there were dandelions.... everywhere that year.
Made a really nice tan brown I must say 10/10 would dye again
Yes would love to know too
You just harvest and simmer the roots (or the flowers if you want yellowish). Never boil it. Just like with any plant dye.
I left mine to steep in a jar of water at the widnowsill for a few days beforehand.
15:54 YOU HAVE THE FLUFFIEST CAT EVER.
Also, good job on the plant dyeing. BUT THE CAT, OMG.
you wear such pretty clothes while your dyeing! i would be so nervous.
If you want to do more dyeing in the future, check out home brewing supply websites, they sell 20L, 35L, and 55L pots (there’s probably other sizes, but those are pretty common)
Or like canning supplies. The pot my Granny used for canning when she made relish was HUGE, though idk how many liters.
in agreement..if you KNOW you are planning on doing some dyeing then invest in much larger saucepans..why make your job harder..??? besides, they always come in handy for other tasks..
I love your videos! Thank you!
I do have a tip, I didn't read the other comments so I don't know if anyone else suggested this. I am an artist and I use dyes and other things that have to be heated. I went to a thrift store and bought inexpensive pots and cookware and labeled them "For Art Only, Not For Food". I keep these utensils stored in a bin away from my cookware that I use for preparing meals. The bin is also labeled "For Art Only, Not For Food".
This keeps me from damaging the tools that I bought for food preparation. Also, just in case there is something in the art medium that is not safe for consuming, keeping separate pots and things keeps me from risking contaminating anything.
Because they don't really need to be nice or expensive for making art, I am able to get second hand or lower priced stock pots that are much larger than I would use for cooking.
I also found a camping stove at a thrift store so I can work outside and not make a mess in my kitchen.
Thank you for your videos!
“Stove, no stove. Stove! No stove.”
Idk why but this made me laugh so hard😂 love how it turned out☺️
One thing you can do with madder, weld, and other similar plants is a cold dye. Use that white bucket you transferred your wool in and fill it with the right amount of water and madder root, or weld etc and then leave it for a week or so. That way you can achieve the bright colours along with an even dye! I would also recommend soaking your fabric with a mordant first if you want it to take up brighter colours.
Well done! I love experimenting with plants & seeing what colours I can get.
My only suggestion is to be aware if the dye is “food safe”. I have used flowers to dye & then found out they were poisonous so now I only use that pot for dyes not food.
(But food safe plants you can use the pots for food).
That is such a beautiful piece of fabric!
I wonder if the fabric is safe if it is dyed with poisonous ingredients. Stay safe!
orbiting Pluto as long as you don’t eat the fabric!
Omg Elin! You are the most pure and genuine person on TH-cam! I really like the honesty and realism you show.
Like at 6:20 when you knock the lid to the pan and then the expression on your face... That would happen to just about anyone, but instead of editing it out, you left it in your video's, which makes them a whole lot more relatable and approachable. (btw, it also reminded me of Rapunzel in the movie Tangled, when she knocks her frying pan to her head after she captured Flynn Rider..)
It's a joy to follow you on your journey through historical re-enactment and historical clothing manufacturing.
On a whole unrelated note, I absolutly love the grey skirt you are wearing from 11:34 onward. I wouldn't hesitate if I could buy the same one for myself somewhere in the Netherlands.
Thank you for all these kind words! Hahahah I took all of this as a big compliment😂
The skirt I am wearing is actually something I have made myself😊
@@elinabrahamsson9442 It was ment as a compliment! :-)
@@elinabrahamsson9442 I love the skirt! Can you maybe make a tutorial on how to sew it? I would love to recreate it, it fits my dream style perfectly!
Great, you've kick started an interest in plant dying... My husband will be so pleased. lol
oh man that's such a nice color. damn, now I want to plant dye
Who knew that the path to pretty plant-based colours would be riddled with so many unforseen obstacles, haha! I love the end result, though!
As I watched this I was knitting a sontag I dyed with onion skins and walnut. I usually soak my walnuts (husk, nut and all, mostly because they are black walnuts and I wasn't sure how good they are/am lazy) in water to ferment for a couple weeks or months. It gives me a super-rich dark brown that I love.
I have a very useful book on natural dyes. It's called Wild Color by a lovely woman named Jenny Dean. It divides plants and other natural dyestuffs up by color, larked with swatches at the edge of pages. Also lists different methods of fixing the dye like vinegar, alum, copper and iron baths, etc. Can't recommend it enough.
My friends and I have made yellow with onion skins, pink with lichens (and a urea mordant that I wouldn't recommend), and a gorgeous golden orange with turmeric.
When handling any of this stuff, it's a good idea to wear gloves. If it's meant to dye clothes, it will definitely stain your fingers. Many of the dyes and mordant baths can be irritating to skin, too, so make sure you're careful!
Aaaah, you're so adorable!!!
The fabric turned out gorgeous by the way... I'd love to see more projects like this.
You and Jonna Jinton have a lot in common. Both from Sweden both blonde young artists and into plant based pigments. She makes them for painting her artwork and you are attempting simply a different type of artwork. I just want to applaud you for being a rare young person who still values the old traditional sewing weaving and dying skills.
I love watching you nerd out on naturally dyeing fabric it's so sweet and pure
A charming example - and I love the color. Where I live, we leave the walnuts out on a country gravel driveway to dry and then drive a car over them to crack the nuts out.
That is a most glorious shade of deep tannish, russety brown. Just love it! Elin watching you work is so magical and I love how fearless you are and even in your nervousness you carry on regardless of the glitches you face each time you do one of these dye baths. (Also you are just so entertaining and enlightening.) Keep going with your dye experiments as they are so inspirational!
I love this!! I'm making my own kirtle (based off of your video, so thank you for that too!!) for a medieval festival in June, but I've been to my local sewing stores and I didn't like the colours they had/didn't know what kind of colour I wanted to use, I really want to try plant dyeing now because the colour you made is gorgeous
This makes me so happy! You have to send me some pictures when everything are ready😍
Walnuts you say? Immediately click! Maybe the colour is copper? Nevertheless it’s beautiful. Also yes more plant dyeing please! 😂
Elisa Finlayson looks closer to burnt sienna, which is a common paint colour
brittianica that is true
I love how you phrased your comment
I love the aesthetic shots of your kitty while you were waiting for your dye to soak in. 💖
I LOVED how you were looking for the stove top. It just felt like an issue I would go through, doing the same. The way of editing your video brought up the right emotions to the viewer. Your proud face when you showed the beautiful end result is so great! thank you for this video!
I love the final color! And it's okay if you aren't an expert, you are a very capable person who can handle unexpected obstacles. Take pride and confidence in what you do, you are awesome! 😁😁😁
I'd call that colour russet! It came out beautifully though. It looked like that strainer worked pretty well for this, but if you have something finer that you want to strain you could line it with a piece of thin scrap fabric. You'll have to be patient, but it'll keep all the bits out!
Love!! Please make more videos like this 😁 I love plant dyeing, and you are my favorite creative lass on TH-cam!
I have limited experience in dyeing, but i loved making little samples of cotton that i used plants/vegetables/fruit to create. Tea and coffee also make lovely color's too.
That is an amazing color and you should be so proud of yourself! I've been too nervous to dye, and I think that needs to stop. I love how you throw yourself into your projects and just make them happen.
That turned out so well!!
Brilliant video as always. Can't wait for the next one.
Love the colour!
I have some tips I would like to share.This is some of the things I do when dyeing wool yarn.
1. Wash the fabric/yarn with wool sope, then soak it in cold water before dyeing, this will help securing a more even colour. (30-60 min)
2. If you have pots enough, heat up the fabric alongside the dyeing pot. This will ensure the same temperature in the fabric and the colour bath when you transfer the fabric to the dyeing pot, this is better for the wool.
3. The use of a mordant will give stronger and more light resistant colours. The different mordants also give their own caracteristicks to the colour = more colour options. I think walnut naturally has some mordant in it but I'm not sure.
4. Colouring with mushrooms is also really fun and you can get colours from earthy browns, reds, green, grey to intense purple and baby pink . but as mentioned earlier: Please use separate cooking and colouring utensils as some colours and mordants are toxic. There is a Swedish woman (don't remember the name) who has written a really good book on dyeing with mushrooms.
My husband gave me a woollen scarf in a slightly deeper version of that colour years ago, and we used it as the inspiration for the drawing room in a Georgian house we used to own in Scotland. Although we colour matched professionally the paint came up quite red on the walls due to the south facing light. It was sumptuous (and was even on an interiors programme and in a few newspaper articles). I've still got the scarf and it's one of my treasured possessions.
Welcome to"" the strange in between shades"" club. This colour is cognac a very beautiful traditional colour that I have not seen in decades. truly lovely.
I was just admiring your clothes throughout the entire video! You have such a lovely sense of style
I can't speak to the dye-process, but I wanted to say that your humor, video editing, and very upbeat way of doing things is amazing to watch. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more videos! Its great to see someone young doing historical things, speaking as another younger person.
Keep up the great work and stay safe- may your stitches be straight and your dyes well-colored!
It's a really beautiful color! Well done!
I love the Swedish accent. I think because there are several Swedes I have watched videos from and they were all so lovely :)
Absolutely amazing. That's a beautiful color of rust. Very organic and true. Thank you for such a beautiful channel that I stumbled across this morning I'm still amazed at our sisters and brothers from Sweden and reconnecting back to our roots.
I love seeing plant dyeing content, good to see I'm not the only one interested in it in the medieval context!
You are so darling!!! Made me tear up picturing my own daughter doing fun things like this your parents must be so proud ❤️
This is so much fun to see! As a knitter, I have been on and off about natural dyeing. But, I am super tempted to try now! Don't worry about being a beginner. It is still fun to see people try new things!
I was so smiling at your joy of the colour! It was a lovely result!
You should get a bigger pot, I recommend a goulash cauldron, they are really cheap, for example I got me a 30-litres bogrács for 25€
Unfortunately that size of pots are not so easy to find here in Sweden 😅
I think you can get that only in Hungary... I mean, i have a gulas cauldron but it was made back when Vojvodina was under Austria
@@gothsyalk9331 I'm from Germany and we can get them here. But yes not sure how the situation is in the Scandinavian countries
Absolutely, but I have searched and looked for one for almost 2 years. They are quite hard to find here in Sweden, and those who I do find are very expenssive. I hope I can buy a bigger pot some day, but this will do for now😊
@@elinabrahamsson9442 It might be cheaper to take a trip to Germany or another country - the more east you go, the better for your wallet! Seriously, in the Czech Republic for example, every decent houseware shop has at least 20 l pots - when you come in summer, you get better prices, because that is our main canning season (we love our pickles and jams). :P
That color is gorgeous and so is your cat! Thank you for sharing. Julie 🥰
You ended up with a lovely rust color! What will you be making with you're freshly dyed wool?
I hope it will be enough for a 17th century jacket 😊
I love your videos! Your personality, the cinematography, the music, the way you stumble through each project with an uncertain determination, I love all of it!
What a beautiful color. Now to see the end. It’s BEAUTIFUL!!! I love it!
Ohh, it turned out beautiful!
I can’t wait to see what you make from it :-)
I missed watching your videos!! 🥰🥰🥰
You clothes are really cute I'm obsessed with the pants you're wearing (I'm also obsessed with this entire video using plant dye is so cool)
oh, what a lovely color u got in the end!! like cinnamon maybe? love it!
Yes, please, more plant dyeing!!! This is a beautiful color! I may need to try overdyeing some of my walnut-dyed linen!
The color is a russet...a beautiful color, subtle and unique! I’m looking forward to see what you will make with it.☺️
The most relatable dying video I've ever watched!
I LOVE all the outfits you wore in this also
I have a black walnut tree next door, and up against my fence. I call it the Zombie tree because it has been completely cut down twice in the last 30 years and it missed now very tall with many side trunks! The tree people told me it lives mainly underground in its roots! Love that I’ve found your videos. You make me want to go to an event all dressed in new, hand stitched clothes!
That skirt you are wearing is absolutely amazing! Where is it from? Did you make it yourself? Also, if you want to get the most out of your dying efforts, dye several pieces of fabric or dye yarn in the same water (the same colour soup). The shade of the colour lightens with each dye and gives amazing colours, for instance madder gives the most beautiful shades of pink after a few dyes.
That color turned out beautifully! I love warm earthy colors. It was super interesting watching the process of plant dying, I totally want to try it out some time!
Absolutely loved this! Your house is gorgeous, you make these videos fun and engaging. Thank you.
That was so fun and engaging. Amazing video. And that dark gray wool skirt was gorgeous
It's such a beautiful color!!!!
this was in my recommendations and is the best dye video i have seen! how fun and such an amazing color
Wow! I love the gorgeous copper tones in the fabric; I enjoy the plant dyeing content.🖤
Brick red is one of my fav colours! Besides your plant dye, I've liked your style very much! Your white striped blue shirt and grey skirt are so cool!
My jaw dropped when you showed the end result. Such a rich colour!!😍😍
Such a beautiful colour, also I love how relaxing and warm your videos are. 😊
Hello Elin, that was a really cool and interesting video. Can't wait to see the next one :)
Earth tones. Gotta love 'em. I've never tried doing natural dyes...and I've never heard of some of which you refer (Weld or Madder). What little I have gleaned from TH-cam is that Turmeric is fantastic for producing bright yellow.
The piece that you did here is beautiful! I could see making a hooded poncho out of that. Any wool blend is always good at fending off the cold. I'm in the Pacific Northwest of America (where it is most likely to be wet and cold during the winter) and such a garment would be a nice thing to add to One's closet!
I love the color it came out! The only thing I've dyed with plants is my hair :)
And we eat walnuts at Christmas in the area of the US I'm from!
But probably not Black Walnuts, which I think is what she is using here. :)
They are expensive and difficult to source. The shells are nearly impossible to crack open! Even the squirrels give up often.
Aside from all the other glorious aspects of this video, the hunt for a stove is SO REAL lol. When my mother got an induction stove like yours she had to give me all her cookware that wouldn't work on it so she wouldn't accidentally try to use it. (which is a big yay for me because it's much better quality than I could afford to buy for myself right now, but was definitely a big bummer for her until she realized that meant she could get herself some new fancy pieces too!)
This was really interesting to watch and relaxing yet entertaining as usual, thank you!
Lovely seeing a video from you again! I missed your videos!
That colour seems to me like a lovely terracota shade and it's absolutely beautiful! Such a gorgeous result :D
I would love to see you dye with other colors too! This process is so interesting!
Beautiful colour. I enjoy how you don't give in when you run into a challenge. That is what my daughter says about me. I always have a plan B ....or C...or...you get the idea. I shall share something. I am old enough to be your grandmother. I have had a wild adventure of a life. One of the most useful things that has helped me through life is that gift I see in you. With this attitude, you will do well, wherever life takes you.
omg i love how chaotic this gets, literally me everytime i try to cook or make anything ever
Hi Elin,
I discovered your videos two days ago...(boooouh). I found them really great and refreshing , just like you. This night I dreamt about a petrol-blue kirtle...I woke up craving for linen and threads :)
My daughter (11 years old) asked me several weeks ago about dying with plants. I think I will show her your success (and translate it, we're french).
Thanks for your work and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Wow that is an amazing colour.
As spontaneous and happy as you are, you make me think of a live Rapunzel ;)
Thank you for sharing this experiment and for reminding us how fun it is to try out something new. Your colour is gorgeous, you did great !
Your videos are very well done and I love your happy personality. Thanks for making great content!
Cochineal is a beetle...used to be used for dye and colorant of liquors in times gone by. Not lice :)
Still used, sadly
Such a beautiful, rich color!! Your cat is also so fluffy and adorable💖
This is so amazing. I love plant dying and it is such an interest process.
This is super entertaining, I've always been terrified to dye so I appreciate that someone in this world who isn't an expert is making video content to give me hope. :)
This was really interesting to watch, great work! I didn't really know much about dying clothes naturally and for some reason it had never occurred to me that people in the past would double-dye clothes to get combination colours :).
I've been binge watching your videos. That are amazing. You have so much energy and enthusiasm. I've really been appreciating your editing and topics. I think its brilliant you share the ups and downs of your process it's really refreshing. I can't wait for more videos :)
Whoa thats such a nice color!
This is absolutely wonderful, thank you!! I cant wait to see what you make out of it!
Hello, Bri here from Canada 👋 Just wanted to say I love your videos and your enthusiasm!! I have just recently started handsewing for historical reenactment and there is nothing I love more than to sit down with a cup of tea, pull out my sewing and put your videos on!!
I am also focusing on late 12th century early 13th century Germany so I thought it was more than a coincidence that your video popped up in my feed!
Keep up the great work sista and I look forward to your future videos!!
You kept me smiling all along the video! :-D
I love how excited she is. She smiles so big lol
I'm sure someone has already mentioned it but I haven't seen it in the comments that I have read....you should always wet the fabric before you put it into the dye. The water will help the dye travel into the fiber more evenly. Also, I noticed that someone mentioned getting a canning pot for a bigger pot. This is fine BUT, most of them are aluminum and it will change the color of your dye! Metals like aluminum, copper and iron will all make the exact same dye come out a different color! It's so fun to see what you end up with and you have made a gorgeous piece of fabric! Good job.
Thank you! Yes dampen the fabric before is something I knew, but when I was recording this, I had so much in my head so details like that just completely fell away. You're right, dampen the fabric before is important, and should be done!
@@elinabrahamsson9442 - an enameled canning pot is the best choice. They are relatively inexpensive and can often be found at second hand stores. Just be certain the enamel isn't chipped or scratched on the inside
@@EsmereldaPea Yes, and also it would work on an induction stovetop. I assume that's why your large pot didn't work and you had to go get the portable stovetop? Most large soup pots are aluminum, which you do NOT want for this.
Wow! That's such a gorgeous colour! I love plant dying and I really want to try it myself. Its so magical to watch the colour develop and you're never quite sure how it will turn out when it's done.
Your videos are always so fun to watch and this one was really great
I really enjoy your videos. You are sincere in every one of them and the background music reminds me of my Irish dancing days 😍
This was quite interesting to watch.
Lovely cat in the snow. 😻
What a beauiful colour! I agree with someone who said that this could be russet.
I definitely like the way it turned out.
Your plant dye turned out so pretty. I would love to try the same process. Please include more content on natural dyes. This is very interesting. Thanks. 🐦
That's a beautiful color. It's close to a brick red or burnt orange. Love it.
What a beautiful color! I love fall shades, and that's just lovely!