FEEDBACK FRIDAY has meant so much to Kathy and I, and we know it means a lot to you too. We so appreciate all the emails and notes you send weekly about how they help you through this time. So why not kick off a little series with some of your love letters that make us all feel the love of this natural dye community?
Got something you’d like to share? Email me, Amy at [email protected]
Dear Kathy and Amy,
Thank you so much for the wonderful Feedback Fridays. They have been such a gift during this crazy time. Although I haven’t been able to attend many in person due to work, I have watched all of the recordings. They have answered questions that I didn’t know I had! It’s been a wonderful way to connect to the plant and fiber community.
Just before the pause started in Brooklyn I was finishing a six week session with a group of middle school kids dyeing and knitting the rainbow. We used six different natural dyes, one per session. The kids loved the subtle beauty of the natural colors and loved knitting with them. I added this group which I teach from my home after nine years of teaching after-school fiber arts in a public elementary school where natural dyeing just isn’t practical for so many reasons. During the pause I have been dyeing constantly, trying new things and working on the best dyes for embroidery floss – the kids’ request! My family has been very patient with my experiments and know to ask if a pot on the stove has food or fiber before diving in.
A few weeks ago, I believe in the session with Milisa about growing dye plants, there was some discussion of dyeing with old dried marigolds. Just before that I had found a box that contained some marigolds picked by my mother who died in 2013, I tried them and they worked beautifully! I’ve attached a photo showing from left to right (image above): embroidery floss without mordant, wool with no mordant, and two wools with mordant, they are all sitting on top of a bandanna without mordant. I thought you might be interested to see them. I think the marigolds were picked in the summer of 2013 and stored in a brown paper bag since. I had been hesitant to use the marigolds because they are a bit sentimental to me but making a pigment would be a lovely way to preserve them. My daughter looked at the yarn and said it was ‘Grandma Yarn.’ I have a lot more so I plan to dye enough for a sweater or poncho for her.
Anyway, that was a very long, but heartfelt, thank you. Your Feedback Fridays have been such a boost during a dark time and I am so grateful to you for them. Know that I am a customer for life.
Sending tons of love and good wishes,
Amy Crews
@upstudiobklyn