solar dyeing // v i t i s * v i n i f e r a

The south of France is a land of vineyards. It's not like Burgundy, but with the approximately 300 days of sun we get each year, grapes don't have too much difficulties to grow & get sweet & juicy. Because it grows a lot here, I though about grabbing a couple of red/dark grapes, to try solar dyeing with them. That's what I did. I picked the grapes (Vitis vinifera) you will see on the following photos, kept the "balls" only, filled a big jar with them, crushed them by hand (this part was fun, and believe me or not, not staining) and then put the (mordanted with alum) fibers in the jar & left them for 11 days.

although I'm not a big fan of purple color, I must say that I fell in love with this one !

one other reasons why I love dyeing with plants ! I'm rediscovering each color, each difference in a same hue. I've always enjoyed each & every color of the world, but I'm loving even more now I know how to get them naturally.