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Natural Dyeing Diaries: Rhubarb Leaves

sweetstitchingcrafts — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 18:57:15 +0000

Natural dyeing has always interested me. Using plants to dye feels like a way to connect with nature. I was intimidated by dyeing wool, so I hoped a workshop would help me start. When that didn’t happen, a friend encouraged me to try it on my own. So, I did and decided to share my journey with you. I researched natural dyeing at my library and found great resources like A Garden to Dye for by Chris McLaughlin and Natural Kitchen Dyes by Alicia Hall. These books gave me the basic information I needed, and I chose rhubarb leaves for my first dyeing project since they were easy to find. Here are the steps I took to dye 100% wool worsted weight yarn with rhubarb leaves.

Step #1- Harvest Rhubarb leaves

I was eager to start natural dyeing right away, so I looked for an abundant plant to use. Rhubarb was in peak growth, and while I’m not a gardener and plants tend to wilt around me, my friend had some rhubarb in her garden. She gladly shared some with me. My research showed that fresh rhubarb leaves were best for dyeing, so I quickly cut them into smaller pieces. To achieve a good color saturation, I needed a 1:1 ratio of fresh leaves to the weight of dry fiber (WOF). The expected color from rhubarb leaves is mustard yellow if the water’s pH is neutral (pH 7). While my resources explained modifying colors by reducing or increasing pH values, I focused on mastering the basics first.

I chopped up the leftover rhubarb roots and stored them in the freezer for future use. Rhubarb leaves can act as a mordant, which helps the color adhere to the fiber, but I used them solely for their color. To ensure a deeper mustard yellow, I decided on a 2:1 ratio. My wool fiber weighed 114 grams, and the rhubarb leaves weighed 192 grams, which was close enough for me since I rarely measure exactly.

Step 2: Preparing the dyebath

I used a stainless steel pot with a lid, dedicated solely to dyeing, as rhubarb leaves contain poisonous oxalic acid. The pot was large enough to hold the chopped leaves and enough water to cover them. I heated the pot until the dyebath gently boiled, then reduced the heat to let it simmer for an hour. I kept the lid on during this time and ensured proper ventilation by keeping the windows open.

After an hour, I removed the pot from the stove and set it aside. Though this wasn’t my original plan, I ended up leaving it for two days due to a busy schedule. This extra time allowed more dye to be extracted from the leaves, turning the dyebath from a golden yellow to a dark mustard yellow.

I strained the dyebath using a metal sieve and poured the liquid into mason jars for storage in the fridge. The total volume of the dyebath was 2.854 liters.

Step # 3: Preparing the wool for dyeing

It is recommended to scour your wool first to remove any substances that might prevent the dye from adhering properly. Although my wool yarn was relatively clean, I still used a gentle wool wash (Eucalan) and let it soak for 20 minutes before rinsing it with cool water. Then, I prepared a lukewarm water bath and let the yarn soak for at least an hour before dyeing, as wet yarn absorbs dye better.

Step # 4: Dyeing the wool in the rhubarb leaves dyebath

I poured all of the dyebath solution and the pre-soaked wool yarn into a stainless steel pot and covered it with a lid. I brought it to a gentle boil, then reduced the heat and let it simmer for an hour. During this time, I gently pushed the yarn deeper into the dyebath only twice to avoid felting it. After an hour, I removed the pot from the burner and let it cool before extracting the yarn. At first glance, the yarn had completely taken up the mustard yellow color.

Step #5: Rinsing and Finishing the natural dyed yarn

Rinsing the yarn was the most nerve-wrecking part. I rinsed the yarn using water at the same temperature it was resting in until the water ran clear. I was anxious to see if the deep mustard color would stay or fade to a pale yellow. To my surprise, most of the deep mustard color remained, and it didn’t take more than 10 minutes for the water to become clear. I decided to soak it in Eucalan for another 10 minutes and rinse it again. Only a small amount of dye ran off this time. After a final rinse, which took less than a couple of minutes, I hung the yarn to dry.

Ta! Da! Here is my first naturally dyed yarn and it turned out pretty good 😊

Was I intimidated when I first started this process? Absolutely. Despite my fear of failing, I went for it and am very proud of the results. Even if it had gone wrong, it wouldn’t have been the end of the world. It took little time and resources, and most importantly, I had fun. I plan to continue sharing my natural dye journey, with future projects using onion skins, avocado skins and pits, and more. Have you tried dyeing your yarn or fabric before? Feel free to comment below.

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Spinning Yarn Is Worth It!

sweetstitchingcrafts — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:43:04 +0000

When I started spinning yarn, people often asked why I bothered when it’s so easy to buy. It’s a fair question, and I often wish I could explain in detail why. So, here’s a brief reminder for myself and an invitation for others to understand why I love spinning yarn. I hope fellow handspinners can relate, and those curious about spinning will dive into this rewarding craft and get hooked, just like I did.

1) One of a Kind!

Handspun yarn stands out distinctly, bearing the unmistakable mark of human craftsmanship that is difficult to replicate by machines. This human touch, with its imperfections, adds character to the yarn, making it special. Why does this matter? When you use handspun yarn in any fiber craft, it adds a unique quality to the pattern and, consequently, to the final design of your project. For instance, last fall, I worked on a French weaving project, which I detailed in my blog post “Harvesting Creativity.” While the weaving pattern itself was beautiful, using handspun yarn made the pattern more prominent, enhancing the overall design.

From time to time, I enjoy going through my collection of handspun yarn to remind myself of what I have and to motivate myself to use it more in my fiber crafts instead of just keeping it stored away. It’s a way for me to get excited about upcoming projects and, despite my attempts to envision the finished item, I’m always pleasantly surprised by how it turns out. Because handspun yarn is so unique, it’s difficult to predict how it will behave or which aspects of a design it will highlight, and I believe that’s part of its charm. I’m looking forward to using it in projects I haven’t tried before, like rug hooking, and I’ll be sure to update you when I do.

2) Variability

I appreciate the versatility that handspun yarn offers, particularly in terms of its variability. One key aspect for me is the size or thickness of the yarn. While commercial yarn comes in different weights or sizes, I can still achieve variability even within these weight classes. For instance, my favorite yarn to use, fingering weight (also known as 4 ply yarn), allows me to create a thicker version that borders on sport weight yarn, or I can go the opposite way and produce almost lace weight without spinning too fine.

Another aspect I enjoy is the ability to control the number of plies to achieve the desired thickness and sturdiness of the yarn. For example, when knitting socks, a 3-ply yarn is generally preferred over a 2-ply yarn because the additional strand provides more resilience against friction when the socks are worn.

Most importantly, the variability of color arrangement is key. Fibers can be divided at color changes and spun separately, or divided into thin strips and spun randomly. This encourages more blending of colors, creating visual interest in the yarn strands and ultimately enhancing the final handmade project.

3) Enjoyment!

Expressing the joy of spinning requires acknowledging both its technical aspects and its inherent fulfillment. While learning the technicalities may seem daunting at first, once you find your rhythm, spinning becomes truly enjoyable. This enjoyment extends into other fiber crafts like knitting or weaving with handspun yarn. The unique texture and feel of handspun yarn, distinct from commercial yarns, add to the pleasure of working with it. Moreover, the knowledge that you’re creating from scratch adds depth to the slow making journey, fostering a greater appreciation for the final product and the creative process itself.

If it wasn’t clear from my earlier words, I truly believe that spinning yarn is worth the investment. While it may indeed be more expensive and time-consuming compared to buying commercial yarn, the unique qualities, variability, and enjoyment factor it offers are unparalleled. The satisfaction derived from creating something entirely unique and the joy it brings to future projects outweigh the cost considerations for me. I’m eager to hear your thoughts on spinning or working with handspun yarn. Please feel free to share your comments below.

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Reigniting My Spinning Groove: Learning How to Spin Yarn Again!

sweetstitchingcrafts — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:13:06 +0000

Music: Wonders Abound by Joyspring

I have been spinning since 2011 and I would spin for hours daily.I was addicted and couldn’t fathom taking a break. Unbelievably, I went an entire year without spinning. This unexpected pause happened because the drive band on my spinning wheel broke, and I needed to replace it. I’d used the same band for over 8 years, so its breakage was inevitable. Nothing lasts forever! Long story short, it took a year to fix my Majacraft Little Gem II spinning wheel, and when I could finally spin again, I felt a mix of excitement and doubt. I questioned if I still knew how to do it. The good news is that this story has a happy ending. I got reacquainted with my spinning wheel by following these five steps:

1) Practice peddling first!

Yup just like how you learned to spin the first time I recommend just start peddling. Old age saying: Practice makes perfect is true! Patience is not my strongest virtue so you can imagine I wanted to skip this step all together and start making yarn. But just like how my spinning guru (Lori, from the Black Lamb) taught me in the beginning it is an essential step if you want to establish a rhythm while spinning. Yes, I had to get my groove back and guess what I still have rhythm. How long should you just practice peddling? There is no hard and fast rule! Keep peddling until you feel comfortable with your spinning wheel.

2) Pick a wool fiber that is easy to spin

One with a longer staple length and where all the fibers are aligned in the same direction. The more basic wool preparations (roving with no mixed blends of fiber types such as superwash merino cashmere blend) the better control you have while drafting because they are less slippery to work with. You can just focus on learning how to draft again in rhythm with the peddling of your wheel. Now I have every intention to return to my luxurious fiber blends because they are heavenly to spin with, even better to knit with and plus I still have a big fiber stash to get through.

I received some awesome white wool from Wingham Wool Work through a fiber swap on Ravelry – such a thoughtful gift from my swap partner. I decided to work with the white wool to see how consistent I could make my spinning, which is important to me so that I can create even and consistent yarn. While I know using multicolored wool would have been more fun, I wouldn’t have been able to gauge the consistency of my yarn spinning. Plus, consistent spinning means that I can knit uniformed stitches, which is always a plus. Can’t wait to see what I’ll create with this yarn!

3) Reduce brake band tension

Readjust your brake band tension such that the wheel (specifically the flyer) does not fill the bobbin with the yarn as quickly and allow you enough time to draft properly. That way you are not fighting with the wheel. Keeping a consistent rhythm is challenging enough on your first go.

4) Create a relaxing environment

Can I be honest with you? I was nervous, which makes my muscles, especially my hands, tense up and grip my fiber supply tightly. This isn’t good for spinning because it leads to fiber entanglement and makes drafting difficult. Smooth drafting is crucial for creating consistent singles, which, in turn, helps produce beautiful 2 or 3 ply yarns. To ease my nerves, I set up a relaxing environment with a diffuser filled with calming essential oils and silence; no electronics, which I used to have when spinning.

5) Take breaks!

It is a good idea to step away from the wheel time to time. It allows you to re-evaluate what you have done. You might want to adjust how you are sitting or reposition the orientation of the orifice or even the tension on your wheel for the next spinning session.

The question, “Can I start spinning again?” can definitely be answered with a resounding “Yes.” All it required was establishing a rhythm, selecting the right fiber, adjusting tension, staying calm, and taking breaks. Handspinners often have various methods to reconnect with their spinning wheel, whether an old one or a new addition to their collection. My goal as a handspinner was rediscovering the joy of spinning, rather than delving into technical and analytical aspects. I find the most enjoyment in spinning when I’m fully present in each drafting moment. After spinning the singles, I consider how to ply them or sometimes let the singles sit while I work on another fiber. It’s a slow, satisfying journey, and I’m content as long as I’m in my spinning groove. If you’ve taken a break from spinning, please share your experiences and methods for getting back on track in the comments below!

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