I am keen to use locally grown dyestuff in my work, either foraged or from my garden. So earlier this year I planted some woad seeds. I had obtained the seeds from natures rainbow.

Woad has been used as a dye stuff in Britain for 100s of years and I found it remarkably easy to grow. What I did not research at the time of planting was anything about harvesting for dyeing. When I did was somewhat perplexed as to the complexity of the harvesting procedure – never mind the dyeing processes. It was clear that I needed to harvest the leaves in the first year of growth. But when , summer of autumn.  Possibly that depends when you planted the the seeds.   I have been looking at my plants now for a number of weeks , wondering is today the day to harvest.    As I have a holiday planned shortly I decided I could not wait for my return, so today I picked the leaves.

My woad plants before picking

The bald woad plants after picking

The approx 1.5 kg of leaves of woad leaves

Unfortunately there is no way if knowing whether there is any blue dye in the leaves at this point. I realised late that my plants had been planted far to close together so seemed a bit stunted. Not really ideal!

So I soaked the woad leaves in boiling water and let them cool naturally. I did not use ice cubes to speed up the cooling process. It seems over the top to me. After straining the woad leaves out I  adding washing soda and the pH shot up from approx 5 to 8.

Aerating next . A plant pot worked well, too well. So much froth. It just would not dissipate.

Eventually I got fed up waiting for the froth to go whilst trying to keep the temperature at 50 oC. I added the spectolite and waited.  Because of the froth I could not really see the dye solution to see if it had turned greeny.  I guessed that it might be ready.

I first dipped some hanks of silk yarn and then a longer scarf. Suprisingly they turned a lovely shade of turquoise. What does that mean ? I went on and successfully dyed some wool fibres, all Masham. The silk and cotton fabric were less successful.

So my first experiment worked, although not a massive amount of dye seemed to be present in the leaves.

Continuing the experiment I simmered the spent woad leaves and left them  overnight. The liquor was pink , exciting to think I might now get some pink fibres as well.
Here they all are. Not much weight of fibres and fabric , but what lovely colours.

So overall I am please my my woad experiments.  I can’t decide whether to dig up the plants , or see if we have a magical Indian summer and I can harvest more leaves before the winter.