It really does create a fantastic color. And as @Tracey Kuzniak said, the history really brings it all to life. I also deeply appreciate the obvious commitment you have to making things as environmentally friendly. I buy used pie tins or glass pans (my favorite is glass) for drying seeds before putting them away. They stay put but still have good air exposure. Yes, I'm time traveling from Jan 2022 back to Jan 2020. Onto another one.
Natural dyeing is always fascinating to watch - something i don't get though - you add alum and or cream of tartar without ever explaining why - is one or the other base/acid or is there some other property of these that makes the pigments stick to the yarn, particularly when using both - have only done acid dyeing with vinegar or citric acid myself
I’m becoming very interested in the history of fibre arts, do you have any recommendations of books that might be good research reading? How did/do you learn about it?
Knit 1 Breathe 2 I tend to do most of my research online. I tend to gravitate towards research performed at various Universities. You can find many thesis’s online. I will talk about this in one of my upcoming woolcasts. Thank you for the question.
Thank you for another well thought out video! The history is interesting too. Cochineal for the higher ranking redcoats, less costly madder for the rest. I have to tell you that I think your cabin is beautiful! Cast iron pans and trade blanket egg cups, perfect! I like your cabin logo too. Best wishes!
Also, I wanted to ask you if you have had any luck with producing reds from any plants?...Beets etc...I tried using hibiscus flowers but it ended up turning a royal blue...probably because I used alum as a mordant?...Thanks, Ken
I am not aware of anyone dyeing their hair with cochineal. If you want to dye your hair with natural dyes, you can use henna and indigo to get black. I have never dyed my hair before, however if I do I will it will be with hanna and indigo. :)
I can't see half the things that you are doing. Need to lower the aim of your camera to sjow less of you, and more of what your hands are doing like the mortar & pestle or strainer w/ cheese cloth. Would be much more instructive if these things were not out of view
Fascinating to learn about the use of those bugs for dyeing. Thank you. In relation to the alum and the iron mordants, have you noticed if the use of either one is better than the other in enabling the yarn hold the colour longer over time?
Summer King it really depends on what you are dyeing. I tend to use iron when I want to darken the colour. In terms of longevity of colour I have noticed that some wild grape and ferns do not hold as well with alum. Thank you for your question.
KENetic, thanks for the question.Just go to the end of the episode and you will see the final product. I have about 5. skeins washed and ready to go :)
Love this video. I've ordered my first home dye kit with cochineal and also madder root. Interested to know if you mordant your yarn with alum too or just the dye bath? and this just your best practice or is it something specific about the dye you're using bugs rather than plants? Thanks!
Hello from Ukraine, thanks a lot for your videos! I m interesting in dyeing of yarns, do you try to dye yarn with grass? or another herbs to make green colours?
Thanks for the video. Unfortunately, you couldn't really see the dyed thread. It's a shame because I was particularly curious about it. The color seemed dreary to me and I was wondering if I should order tin chloride with the cochineal after all. I didn't really want to do that because it's poisonous.
@@cabinboyknits1816 Thanks. I thought so. Some people don't believe me when I tell them it's the natural red food colour, and that it is foods, cosmetics, materials, and loads of other things. Goes by different names. Carmine, Crimson Lake, Red 4, E120.
Fascinating! I never would have guessed one would dye yarn with bugs. Hope you had a wonderful trip to NYC and Vogue Knitting Live. Will there be a video podcast about your experience there? Best wishes for more January!
So much to learn. You need to write a book with all the history that goes along with dyeing yarn. Very interesting and informative video.
Connie Buchner thank you.
It really does create a fantastic color. And as @Tracey Kuzniak said, the history really brings it all to life. I also deeply appreciate the obvious commitment you have to making things as environmentally friendly. I buy used pie tins or glass pans (my favorite is glass) for drying seeds before putting them away. They stay put but still have good air exposure. Yes, I'm time traveling from Jan 2022 back to Jan 2020. Onto another one.
I'm glad you mentioned the pH of the water effecting the colour!
Cabin Boy Knits? I prefer "Dye Daddy"!
Thanks Sean
Fantastic colors. Can you do a video of dying with Woad?
Very interesting, I missed a bit, why do you strain the pulp and than put the pulp back in the dye pot again ? (with more water)
I can verify they're very available in Texas, too. No doubt the entire southwest as well.
Natural dyeing is always fascinating to watch - something i don't get though - you add alum and or cream of tartar without ever explaining why - is one or the other base/acid or is there some other property of these that makes the pigments stick to the yarn, particularly when using both - have only done acid dyeing with vinegar or citric acid myself
I’m becoming very interested in the history of fibre arts, do you have any recommendations of books that might be good research reading? How did/do you learn about it?
Knit 1 Breathe 2 I tend to do most of my research online. I tend to gravitate towards research performed at various Universities. You can find many thesis’s online. I will talk about this in one of my upcoming woolcasts. Thank you for the question.
Love these dye tutorials, especially with the added history information 👍🏼 Thanks so much for doing these 🥰
Thank you Tracey.
Thank you for another well thought out video! The history is interesting too. Cochineal for the higher ranking redcoats, less costly madder for the rest. I have to tell you that I think your cabin is beautiful! Cast iron pans and trade blanket egg cups, perfect! I like your cabin logo too. Best wishes!
Also, I wanted to ask you if you have had any luck with producing reds from any plants?...Beets etc...I tried using hibiscus flowers but it ended up turning a royal blue...probably because I used alum as a mordant?...Thanks, Ken
Ken, madder root produces great reds.
@@cabinboyknits1816 Awesome!!! Thanks for the info!!!
Thanks for the instructions. Do you put anything in your water when you wash your wool after this process?
Jo PB I wash the yarn until the colour has stopped coming out. Occasionally I will add Soak to the final wash.
How much did your bag of cochineal go for? I've been looking online and it seems really pricey.
Krista, it is expensive. I buy it from Maiwa. $118.00 CAD for 500g (1.1lb). You can also get red from Madder.
@@cabinboyknits1816 oh I just bought some dye from them! They have free shipping right now ☺
Can we dye cochineal with our hair?!
I am not aware of anyone dyeing their hair with cochineal. If you want to dye your hair with natural dyes, you can use henna and indigo to get black. I have never dyed my hair before, however if I do I will it will be with hanna and indigo. :)
Can’t see what you’re doing as far as the straining. Like the info but sure would be better if you 😂lower the camera
I can't see half the things that you are doing. Need to lower the aim of your camera to sjow less of you, and more of what your hands are doing like the mortar & pestle or strainer w/ cheese cloth. Would be much more instructive if these things were not out of view
Fascinating to learn about the use of those bugs for dyeing. Thank you. In relation to the alum and the iron mordants, have you noticed if the use of either one is better than the other in enabling the yarn hold the colour longer over time?
Summer King it really depends on what you are dyeing. I tend to use iron when I want to darken the colour. In terms of longevity of colour I have noticed that some wild grape and ferns do not hold as well with alum. Thank you for your question.
Your Hudson Bay egg cups that you used to hold your mordants are adorable -- so Canadian :)
The purple that you got from the cochineal is just amazing!
No reveal?...the washed and final color?
KENetic, thanks for the question.Just go to the end of the episode and you will see the final product. I have about 5. skeins washed and ready to go :)
I don't understand why you talk about 10% of the yarn weight and then measure with tablespoons instead of grams.... Could you address?
Celeste, thank you for your question. My measuring spoons are not in grams so I had to convert the measurement.
You’re a fab teacher! 👍 can you change the colour at the end of the dye bath with for example iron? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Berit, thank you very much. You can definitely change the colour at the end of the dye bath with iron? It shifts the colour darker.
I’m pretty sure madder is what was used to dye the English red coats not cochineal but I could be wrong
Sanne, thanks for your comment. The coats of Officers were dyed with cochineal and the coats of Privates and Sergeants were dyed with madder
Love this video. I've ordered my first home dye kit with cochineal and also madder root. Interested to know if you mordant your yarn with alum too or just the dye bath? and this just your best practice or is it something specific about the dye you're using bugs rather than plants? Thanks!
You are such an inspiration
Cassien Enslin thank you
Hello from Ukraine, thanks a lot for your videos! I m interesting in dyeing of yarns, do you try to dye yarn with grass? or another herbs to make green colours?
Thanks for the video. Unfortunately, you couldn't really see the dyed thread. It's a shame because I was particularly curious about it. The color seemed dreary to me and I was wondering if I should order tin chloride with the cochineal after all. I didn't really want to do that because it's poisonous.
Can we use it in food?
Neal, Cochineal is used in food colouring like sausages, icing, and other food products.
@@cabinboyknits1816 Thanks. I thought so. Some people don't believe me when I tell them it's the natural red food colour, and that it is foods, cosmetics, materials, and loads of other things. Goes by different names. Carmine, Crimson Lake, Red 4, E120.
I am just starting to dye my cotton yarn,
Fascinating! I never would have guessed one would dye yarn with bugs. Hope you had a wonderful trip to NYC and Vogue Knitting Live. Will there be a video podcast about your experience there? Best wishes for more January!
Michael Graham I will definitely be doing a recap of my trip to VKL and other fun stuff in NYC.
amazing, where dou get the cochineal?
Sandra, I get my cochineal from Maiwa.