Weld- from the dye garden to the dye pot
Weld for yellow!
As in for the woad, I started to grow weld from seeds in the first lockdown. After a year weld can grow very tall and can look quite magnificiant. The little yellow flowers sprout on their many stems, in all directions they go, like a fire cracker!
Weld is not very disciplined and like to grow where it wants to, not necessarely where one wants to! It yields a yellow pigment that is one of the most light fastness. When harvesting, the whole plant can be dried, cut into small chunks, and stored away for later use.
The plant can also be dried in order to collect the seeds. Hundred of tiny seeds are contained in the flowers, once dried, they only need a small shake to drop, ready to collect.
In the following recipe, the plant was used fresh from the garden.
Cut in small chunks, they are placed in a stainless steel bowl together with water.
They simmer for about 30 minutes.
We sieved the plants, only to keep the dye liquid.
We return the dye liquid to the hob on a gentle heat. Our dye bath is ready.
The silk chiffon is added to the dye bath. It was pre-mordanted in a 10% Alum bath.
It is important to steer the fabric whilst dyeing so to get an even finish.
The colour yellow from weld is rich and vivid, especially stunning on silk.