Overcoming the Fear of Squareness

Suffering from Quadratumphobia might not be that bad, you say? Well, it does cause a bit of discomfort if you live in a perfectly square house and also when trying to make square objects of any kind. The house thing is no longer an issue since we moved into this old house of ours, where everything is very off-level. Like very. Lego isn't an option at all, but I can live with that. But sometimes a woman can have the need for creating square things, like a purse, for instance. I've worked with this phobia of mine, and made a few square things:

All fabric: natural dyed, of course and using re-used fabrics. The purse on the top is made from the trousers my husband wore when we were married. Romantic, eh? Batting: old linens. Zippers: from second hand stores. I have a thing with old zippers. Embroidery yarn: second hand too.
Dragonfly: (deceased) found by little S under a pallet in a pet shop. He has a thing with bugs & insects. (He does not suffer from Acarophobia). 
I found an on-line phobia list - it's kind of funny. How about Barophobia- Fear of gravity? Or Disposophobia- Fear of throwing stuff out ... – DANG! I just realised I've got another phobia!! Well, never mind about that - that's one of the good phobias!
If the Quadratumphobia doesn't prevent me from making more square things like these – do you think I could sell them?

The No-Waste Scarf

When I was created – in the melting pot, you know, I think they used a outdated housewife mold from the 50ies or there about. Throwing things away, food, clothes - well anytning - is just something I cannot do. I guess it was also just the way of things when I grew up, 'no biggie' as they say nowadays; we didn't make a big deal out of it - just the ordinary life.

Lately I've realised it actually makes me quite modern. All that re-using, mending, composting, thrifting, homemade, 'stop the food waste' thinking that the western world is finally beginning to get the grip on, well, that's more or less everyday life here ...

No-Waste Scarf

 This scarf was made of something I actually was on the verge of throwing out. I found a bag with some wool I've dyed with madder root at some point, and then forgot about (or repressed). The thing is - the wool was short-stapled and not soft at all (like steele wool), and I wondered what I've been thinking about when I chose to dye it. Beats me. Not wanting to let the wool – and the water, soap, madder root, energy for heating it all up and time spent on it already go to waste, I decided to make something usefull from it. So I carded it with some angora and silk I had laying around, in order to make it softer and more skin-friendly, spun it chunky and softly on the drop spindle and knitted a very simple scarf-in-the-round. And I used every little bit of it up.

I'm sorry, but my stylist had the day off - and likewise the photographer, my hairbrush and mascara ... you get my point, right? - But my newly turned 8 year old was luckily available, and he did it all for free. Well, skipping the styling and make-up and went for the fun camera part - but for free! I know I've said it before - but there's just something very satisfying in using things up to the last thread - or making stuff from scratch, from materials that could have - but didn't - go to waste.

Eco print goes goth ...

 ... or at least I think this dress turned out kind of romantic goth. After too much thinking about plans, plants and methodes I resolutely took a break from my brain, went out and picked up some windfallen oak and mirabelle leaves and some wild rose leaves. Because that is what I have got outside my door.

I've decided I need another blog where I can write only about natural dyeing and the like. It'll be more like a logbook or notebook for my dyeing experiments and creations. If you want to join me there, please visit Tread gently on the Earth. I have moved over a couple of posts from this blog, but in the future there's not going to be any cross posting. See you!

I Got the Blues

... growing in my garden! I'm beyond thrilled - because it's hard to get the blues. Natural dye-wise, that is. But I got it, and am so proud!

 I know it sounds silly being proud - but blue just wasn't a part of my natural dye world for more than ten years. And now I've grown blue - in my own garden - organically grown.

Cutting and filling this basket with Polygonum tinctorium from my own garden (not the 'real' indigo, it's also known as Japanese Indigo) - filled me with an exitement which can only be compared with the exitement I felt as a child before yule. And it smells so good too!

How to dye with Polygonum tinctorium:
I trimmed off the leaves and put them in the food processor with some cold water. Let it soak for half an hour with some vinegar added to the solution, then strained the liquid through a silk scarf and squeezed the pulp thoroughly. Added some more cold water and a bit of vinegar to the pulp, same procedure as before. Then the wetted yarn and sik scarfs were added to the dye bath. I let it soak for an hour, stirring occasionally. Squeezed it and let it hang to dry. It was wonderful to see the blues develop - slowly before my eyes.

 After 1. dye bath ...

The silk scarf on the top and in the bottom is dyed with only Polygonum tinctorium. Number two from the top is the one used to strain and squeeze the liquid. It's a very strong turquoise. Number three and four is over dyed, ivy and birch leaves, I believe.

I really recommend trying to dye with this plant! It was easy to grow, the seeds sprouted right away (sowed in pots inside) - and I didn't do anything but planting them in a mostly sunny spot with lots of manure. We had a pretty cold, wet summer which they apparently liked.

The dyeing process was easy and fun. No boiling, chemicals or synthetic additives. Organically grown leaves, cold water and vinegar, that's all. And no stress or rushing, I baked a cake and made apple butter while dyeing.


I had to dig up and bring a couple of plants indoors, hoping they will make seeds for sowing next year. Fingers crossed!