AN EASY SOLAR DYE - IT

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Leave the container in place for about ten days (and nights), stirring the contents once each day. At the end of the ten-day period, remove the yarn and rinse it in lukewarm water until the fluid runs clear. Then gently squeeze (do not wring) the excess liquid from the yarn, and dry it—spread out flat—on an old) clean towel. Depending upon the humidity and such, drying can take anywhere from two to four days.

EXPERIMENT!

Part of the fun of solar dyeing is in seeing the unusual colors that often result, since the final hue will depend upon such factors as weather conditions and the amount of sunlight available, as well as upon the natural materials you use. For instance, my first marigold-dyed wool turned out to be not the expected yellow, but a bright lime green! You can also vary the shades by performing the steps of the process in a different order, by changing mordants, or by cooking the dyestuffs and yarn before setting them out to steep together. In this craft, one possibility leads to another ... but do be sure to color enough yarn or fabric at one time to make whatever finished item you're aiming at—even if this means setting out four or five jars at once—because two consecutive batches could turn out to be quite different!

This year, why not preserve the beauty of nature's bounty in some subtly colored knitwear? With the sun's help, this is one dye-it everyone can enjoyl

EDITOR'S NOTE: There are many fine books available on natural dyeing. Two that the author of this article recommends are Dye Plants and Dyeing: A Handbook by Ethel lane Schetky and Carol Woodward (1978), and Natural Plant Dyeing by Palmy Weigle and Mollie Rodriguez (1978). Both publications are available from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Dept. TMEN, 1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11225) and cost $3.05 apiece, including postage. Another valuable guide is Create Your Own Natural Dyes by Kathleen Schultz (Sterling, 1975, $6.95), which is available at your local bookstore or through Mother's Bookshelf ® (see page 123 for ordering information).

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