Black Walnut Season

A few years ago I did walnut dyeing and froze some of the dye for future use.  Sometime in the last year I pulled out the last of my concoction to spot dye some rugs to give them the antique look.  

In good weather I walk to my mailbox (1 mile circumference around the meadow) which takes me past black walnut trees.  Within arms reach was able to grab 30 walnuts.  

It doesn't really take that many to dye according to this recipe:

• Soak 5 hulls in water in container for couple days (I only soaked 1  day)
• Heat to a simmer for 1 hour (think I simmered mine longer)
• Put 1/2 yard wet wool in dye bath and simmer covered (I didn't  measure mine but am sure it was more than half yard.
• Keep wool in pot long enough to achieve the desirable patina.
• Remove wool and gently wash with 1 teaspoon shampoo or mild detergent (no bleach).
• Hang to dry or dry in low temp dryer.
• If you still have color in the pot you can throw in more wool.  
• Hulls can be removed, frozen and used again.  But I throw them out and freeze the liquid instead.

No mordant is necessary but I put in a glug of white vinegar to expedite the absorption of color.

These are my results.  I have placed a small strip of the original wool on top of the dyed wool.  Am planning on using some of these colors in my camp project and wanted the 'dirty' look.  

And in all honesty, I didn't care for the original colors of all those wools; especially the blue/purple on bottom left.  Don't think I've ever used that wool.

Happy wet Saturday, but at least the nor'easter wasn't a monster.  Had some rain and a little wind but thank gawd no trees were toppled.

Saundra

Double Dipping

That would be double-dipping in the walnut dye pot.  As there was much liquid left thought I'd do another round of dying before it went bad.  This time I used only 3/4 yard of fabric thinking the most potent dye had been used in the previous job.  Here is today's achievement.

The top wool is before and bottom is after.  Was a little disappointed in the middle wool results.  It isn't quite as white as the before but not as dark as I'd hoped ~ must be the fiber content of the wool.

The rest of the dye has been poured out, think I'm over the black walnut dyeing this fall.  Besides must clean house and get closer to ready for rug camp in 9 days.....can't wait to see Betsy Reed again.

For those just now visiting my blog I will reiterate my black walnut dye process.  You can see the first of these dye jobs if you scroll down a few posts.

I put 30 whole green/brown nuts in a huge pot (a canning pot actually) with water enough to cover all the nuts.  Brought it to a boil then simmered for maybe half hour.  I let the pot cool on the stove as I wanted all the dye to be released.  Placed the pot in my laundry room sink until the next morning with the nuts still in the liquid.


In the morning took the pot outside as it would be messy.  With a slotted spoon pulled out all the nuts and tossed in the woods for the squirrels.  

Meanwhile my 1½ yards of wool had been soaking, I rung the water out and placed in the dye pot on the stove.  Simmered the wool until wool got to be as dark as I’d liked.  Of course wet wool always shows up darker than when dry.

There is NO NEED to add a mordant to black walnut dye as it will dye EVERYTHING!  Wear gloves if you insist on working with black walnuts.  

Again, the pot and wool went into the laundry room sink to cool and continue to absorb dye.  You can see I'm in no hurry here and don't want to handle hot wool.

I rinsed the wool several times in the sink until rinse water was clear.  Next put the wool in a pot with more clear water and that went in the washer for spin only.  Then into the dryer with a fluffy towel used only for my dye jobs.

Take advantage of the remaining life of the black walnuts as weather is getting colder and they will be gone.

Saundra

Follow the Leader

Also known as 'copy cat'.  Jo Wick posted her dyeing talents on Facebook recently.  It has been years since I dyed using black walnuts so thought it was about time for another.  The nuts are falling now and will soon be rotten or crushed by cars driving thru the development.  Yesterday's gathering provided me with 30 green/brown walnuts.

Above is the wool I started with and almost forgot to take a picture as the wool was being pushed in the pot to soak.  But at the last minute added another small piece of wool which you will see further down.  There was a little over 1 1/2 yards of wool in the pot soaking. 

 I put all 30 whole nuts in a pot of water and simmered.  As dinner time approached decided not to dye then but rather let the pot cool down overnight with the nuts soaking to extract more dye.

Above is what I woke up to and after breakfast took the pot outside to remove the nuts and strain the liquid (below).

There is no  need for a mordant with black walnuts as it will dye EVERYTHING.  I rinsed the wool numerous times until the squeezed wool water came out clear.  Then put the wet wool in my washer to spin out whatever moisture remained.   

Today's results are hanging on the line but tho dry still put them in the dryer with two fluffy towels (used only for wool projects) to fluff up on low. 

I'm not a pink person so have no idea why I purchased that pink wool above.  That is unless it was on sale for $5 per yard and thought I'd find a use for it.  I like the new look better.

Above is a before and after walnut dyeing today.  And yes.......

I also overdyed another piece of that wool using Old Patina.  Above and bottom is the result of the Old Patina recipe so there is just a smidgen of difference.

 Another before and after above.  I liked the pastel yellow/blue plaid thinking it would make a nice soft background and purchased 2 yards.  Just wanted to see how it would turn out with walnut dye.

Above on the left above was dyed with Old Patina and the one on the right from today's walnut dye.  Just a little difference.

That last minute added piece to the pot was the piece of wool on the right.  That piece on the left is the same wool but was from the Old Patina recipe posted on my BLOG.  The reason it is darker is because I was unhappy with the first Old Patina dye job so was dyed twice...thus  it is darker.  But I'm happy with the mellow color of today's walnut dye to the wool on the right so it won't go in a pot later.

 Above left is another 'bargain' just too good to pass up.  But never used it unless it was overdyed ~ too much white showing.  Even after today's walnut dye don't like that light showing thru so would use the darker side.

So the totality of my walnut dyeing for today is above.  OMG, I've still walnut dye in the pot so hopefully I'll get around to using it up soon before it goes bad.  Or perhaps I should freeze some to dab on rugs when hooking and they just need that little bit of ....dirty....for that olden look.

Take advantage of the black walnuts while they are falling.  Happy Sunday and happy hooking.  Weather is about to change.

Saundra