arbutus unedo, second & successful dye !

The natural material I used for my last dyeing is nothing new to me. I tried dyeing with it once, back in December 2010 (feels so long ago while it isn't so) At the time, I had mordanted the fibers with alum, and hadn't done much researchs about it, I just tried dyeing with it.
I'm talking about Arbutus unedo, also known as Strawberry tree in English, or arbousier, en français.

This time around, I have read more books, looked for more informations, and I found that it was rich in tannic acid ... ahaaaaaah ... yes ! So I tried again dyeing with the leaves ... on UNmordanted fibers (linen & cotton mostly, but I also dyed a little wool & silk) ... and modified with iron. And ... ta da ...

Here's a delicious pile of arbutus unedo dyed, or tie-dyed, or di-dyed, goodness !

Grey, I obtained a wonderful grey, and the very best about it is ... that arbutus unedo grows leaves all year around, which will allow me to dye with it all year around too ! It grows abundantly in some places (where I picked it), and believe me, I didn't gather so much for dyeing !

Pomegranate had given me similar results, but there is only one season of pomegranate, while it is always the season for arbutus unedo ! Hoorray ! Here's a local, abundant, not endangered, constant source for grey color ! I'm so excited !

What did I dye, you wonder ?

Three regular gauze cotton scarves, and for the first time, a MAXI one, which is the same length but TWICE as wide !

Also for the first time (and no surprise, it'll happen more regularly from now on !) ... I dip-dyed a gauze scarf (half of it actually) :

Remember the dyeing session two weeks ago that didn't go well ? I over-tie-dyed the batiste scarf I had dyed with rosehips ! No waste !

There are several circles/motifs all over the scarf. Nice ! I also tried to innovate, and am starting today to offer you naturally dyed sewing/craft supplies. You will be able to find naturally dyed cotton twill tape in the shop from now on.

I have tie-dyed a linen panel, and I have made two pouches too, but couldn't take photos this weekend. I'll add them today or tomorrow in the shop. I re-took photos of all the naturally dyed scarves in the shop, with a lighter background, and frankly I like it better this way !

Thanks for visiting, for reading, and for your comments, always ! Have a wonderful week ahead, everyone !