Natural Dyes

We loved the Pond Study so much that we headed back to the nature center to learn all we could about Natural Dyes.

First we learned what dyes are and why they're so important. Our guide then explained how some materials are so easy to find you'll literally trip over them! He then had the kids help find some of them in the park. They hunted down items like Black Walnut Hulls and Golden Rod Flowers.

We also learned that Grapes & Cinabarinus (a fungus which grows on old dead trees in the park but is sometimes hard to find quickly) though native to the area can be tricky to find the day of the class so the park keeps samples handy.

Next we learned about some items that might have been very difficult or even impossible to find here a hundred years ago that we would have been likely to trade for, like Cochineals (they're a little bug that lives on prickly pear cacti, which when you dry & crush create a nice vibrant red dye).

And finally we discussed Indigo and learned why those colors are called Royal Blue and Royal Purple.

While our guide discussed each of the dye materials he kept the kids busy crushing, squishing & generally smooshing up everything to create the actual dye baths. As each dye was finished he placed a single long length of undyed wool in & they discussed things that can effect the dying process such as heat & time. Each piece of wool was hung nonchalantly in a nearby tree to dry, which the kids seemed to think was both smart & funny.

Finally every child received a sample of wool from each dye bath which they attached to a sheet & where they identified both the Dye Source and the necessary Fixer for each sample. In all it was a brilliantly colored day.