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Patch by Jill
I am a natural dyer and wrote my thesis on the use of plant dyes when I was at art school in 1975. I often visit my mother in law Pat, who is 95. Last Summer we both found ourselves reading novels that mentioned Medieval dyeing and whilst we were discussing this, Pat produced several yards of beautiful cream wool fabric she had bought in Harrods in the 1960s. Despite a few moth holes we were undaunted and decided to use the fabric to experiment with the dyes I was working with. I mordanted the wool fabric with Alum and cut it into large squares. I visited Pat every few days and on each occasion I would bring her a new colour. The wool fabric was perfect for dyeing and the colours achieved were rich and glorious. The pleasure and delight this experiment brought us was memorable and uplifting I gave Pat a sample book of all the colours for her birthday. The 10cm x 10cm square is made up from offcuts. The colours are:- Madder overdyed with Indigo Logwood Indigo Brazilwood (with iron shift) Madder overdyed with Brazilwood Brazilwod Madder Buckthorn Weld Marigold Coreopsis (with iron shift) Weld overdyed with Logwood Weld overdyed with Indigo (5 mins) Weld overdyed with Indigo (10 mins)