Our latest experiment with natural dyes is dyeing with the dead flower heads of buddleia.
The instructions we got from Jenny Dean.
Basically – we mordanted a couple of skeins of homespun wool overnight (Devon Closewool).
We went out with our big dye pot and filled it to the top with dead flowers – really easy as we have lots of buddleias, covered them with water, brought to the boil and let it steep overnight.
Then we boiled it for 45 minutes, strained it, added the prepared wool, cooked for a further 30 minutes, and left it in overnight.
And this is how it came out. We are really pleased as it is such a strong colour. – and serendipitous as well; we didn’t have to cut any precious flowers, or deprive any bees – the plants will get a proper pruning back in spring anyway. What a happy arrangement.
colour it green 
That’s a gorgeous yellow color. Imagine if all clothing had only natural dyes. No more acidic pink and green! It outta be a law.
yes this is pretty bright for natural dye – most seem to be very muted, but still attractive
I would never have imagined you’d get that colour from buddleias, very pretty indeed! I like even more that nature seems to have worked things out harmoniously in everybody’s interests.
yes, it’s really very clever of nature! 🙂