Solar Dyeing

I first learned of Solar Dyeing from an ACE Camp trip to Scotland in 2018. As part of the trip, we spent a day natural dyeing with Dwynwen who is the owner of Loch Ness Knitting. 

I tried solar dyeing at home the following summer using the Yarrow from my garden. I liked using the Yarrow because I was able to use the plant after it is had bloomed vs. having to cut it while it was still vibrant in my garden.

Simple Instructions:

• Using a plastic tub outside on a sunny day, I did a cold water bath with mordant from Botanical Colors and soaked the wool for about half an hour.

• I then placed some of the cut Yarrow at the bottom of the jar.

• Add your wet yarn next.

• Place more Yarrow on top and fill up the jar.

• Add water to fill the entire jar.

• Close the lid tightly (because you can lose water if it is not tight enough)

• Set in the sun for a few weeks or until you are happy with the saturation (outdoors in summer is preferable – I live in New England)

• Rinse the yarn to remove all the “plant bits” and excess color and then hang to dry out of the sunlight.

I am only dyeing yarn for my artwork which will not be washed and preferably should not be in direct sunlight, so I am not too concerned about lightfastness or fading due to washing.

Check out a few of my pieces using the Yarrow Dyed yarn: Color Study in Green

Have Fun!