Carrot Top Dyeing

 I have figured out that my favorite natural dyeing is with materials from my yard/garden or the grocery store.  Last week, I came upon a youtube channel that changed my approach, both to how and what I dye. 

I had not tried carrot tops before. The vid that I was watching promised oranges. I got lovely greens. I followed directions, although I am the first to admit that I am BAD at weighing dyestuff and fiber, perhaps that's why I got greens...I will work to improve!

Here are some photos from my process, but I will leave it to you to view the youtube link below for specific directions!

Below is a large glass "pickle" jar in a "bain marie."  A paint strainer is used to hold the dyestuff. I love this method as the glass jar allows me to see what is going on inside. Watching color seep into the water is a large part of the fun for me. I will be trying this method with other dyestuffs. The glass jar also allows one to watch the color seep into the yarn or fiber once it is added.

The dye stuff  (in this case carrot tops)  simmers for an hour. Then, alum mordanted yarn is added to the glass dyepot, and simmered for an hour, then left to cool overnight. I was expecting orange but got a lovely green. (I love both colors so I did not care...)

here is the video link: thanks to https://wildcraftdyeing.com/.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs7FELt0NM4&t=240s

Update, 6/24:  I was lucky to find a bunch of carrots at the farmer's market and decided to try again this month, in part to be sure that they did not go orange, here is the result: 

No indeed, still green which is good, I love greens. The top 2 are mohair, the bottom one I think is polypay. All my handspun.

I have been trying to cultivate Queen Anne's Lace in a pot to no avail. I had a carrot come up by chance and so I did not pick it and it flowered. This may be the only version of the daucus family that I get to enjoy here in Savannah, not too unhappy, though...