Walnut Dyeing, the Lazy Way

 This occurrence of dyeing really was the lazy way. I have three walnut trees in my yard. My son who mows for me insisted that I pick up the fallen walnuts. He says it makes for a very bumpy mow if they are on the ground. Plus last year he got a case of juglone poisoning. 

Anyways, I had picked up most of them and tossed them into the woods. The few that I would find at a later date I just tossed into a bucket to get rid of at a later date. Trouble is, winter came and I didn't empty the bucket. The walnuts have stewed all winter. My bucket was starting to get full of water. So I took some empty milk jugs and filled them with the walnut sludge. 

Yesterday I decided to see what happens if I use that sludge water to dye overly bright wools. I didn't take a before picture. I wish I had. When the wool was wet it had a greenish undertone to it. I dried it overnight by the wood burner and voila, pretty wools. Most of the wool started out as blue or aqua. The two pieces on the far left were a creamy color to start with. As per usual, neither photo of the finished wools are quite right. But I think they turned out great and I certainly will do this again. 

Have a happy Sunday. I have the smoker going and am smoking a pork butt for Sunday dinner. Yum. 

Sue