Don’t be Shy- hunting for pansies

A photo of some Pansies at Monticello (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pansies showing typical facial markings (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

making dye from purple pansies (viola tricolor hortensis)

I am so intrigued by the fact that you can make dye from your garden plants and flowers!

So, I went on a quest through my yard for pansies (shyly hiding beneath grass at the base of the shad trees) and surreptitiously stalking my neighbor’s garden bed…

I mostly use fiber reactive dyes for my business (made in montauk) which is the most eco-friendly dye because it uses the least toxic fixatives (mordants) available: but, here’s the great part about plant dyes: natural dyes from plants, flowers, and roots can be fixed using alum: very eco-friendly… and you can reuse the dye bath so there is less waste!

The only drawback is that with plant and flower dyeing, you can only produce it in small batches- literally one or two items at a time: unless you happen to own a field of flowers (lucky you!)

Fun facts:

Pansies are edible and are high in vitamin C and A. They can be used to garnish soups and salads, and to make flavored honey and syrups.

In this dye bath I used 1 tsp vinegar, and 1 tsp alum for a mordant. I collected lavender and dark purple pansies (just the flowers, no leaves or stems) and simmered the flowers for about an hour then added my fabric swatches. Look at that brilliant color in the pot! I just love the shades of lavender that came out, gorgeous!

A New Generation Discovers Grow-It-Yourself Dyes – NYTimes.com

A New Generation Discovers Grow-It-Yourself Dyes – NYTimes.com.

making dye from beach roses (rosa rugosa)

Some rose hips in close-up (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Rosa Rugosa specimen in the province of Québec, Canada. Français : Un spécimen de Rosa Rugosa observé au Québec, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Japanese “shore eggplant” or Korean “haedanghwa” (flowers near the seashore), rosa rugosa flowers are edible and have the strongest and sweetest of rose scents! I’m so lucky to live by the sea and enjoy their fresh sweet scent as I walk by the water in May and June.

They can be displayed in a vase (but they have millions of tiny thorns, so be extra careful if when picking or cutting!)

The rose hips (harvested in the Fall) can be used for rose hip tea, preserves , jelly or wine- yum!

In this dye bath I used 1 tsp vinegar, and 2 tsp alum for a mordant, and 1 tsp cream of tartar. I simmered the flowers for about 2 hours then added my fabric swatches. Lovely dusty pink color- and your clothing will smell like roses!

wash in cold water.