Why Plant a Dye Garden?
We were lucky enough to move into a place that now has some substantial garden space! While I haven’t been able to convince my beloved to fully rip out the lawn to replace it with pollinator gardens and veggie beds- we have some space to grow a few things! I have been wanting to get into growing my own plants to
The Project
The goal is to make “quilt” duvet covers for the beds in the house. I am hoping to make 3 in total, 2 King sized duvet covers and one Twin.
Plant List
For the Warm Hues
- Marigold
- For texture, not only is this a great plant to have in general I think it would be great to smash the flours into a pre-dyed fabric to create an texture.
- Annual- will need to save seeds.
- For texture, not only is this a great plant to have in general I think it would be great to smash the flours into a pre-dyed fabric to create an texture.
- Prairie Sun Rudbeckia
- While most Rudbeckia plants are associated with Black Eyed Susans which create a gorgeous sage green
- Perennial for zone 5a
- While most Rudbeckia plants are associated with Black Eyed Susans which create a gorgeous sage green
- Dyers Coreopsis
- A staple in almost any dyer garden it seems- this plant offers a beautiful
- Perennial for zone 5a
- A staple in almost any dyer garden it seems- this plant offers a beautiful
- Dyer’s Chamomile
- this is a beautiful, vibrant yellow which looks similar to the intensity of Turmeric. The flowers can be picked and dried throughout the season which is very convenient.
- Annual- will need to save seeds.
- this is a beautiful, vibrant yellow which looks similar to the intensity of Turmeric. The flowers can be picked and dried throughout the season which is very convenient.
For the Cool Hues
- Woad
- This must be in a container as it is quite prolific and spreads. I live in Zone 5A so this will be a perennial plant. And woad’nt it be nice to have a full-on wild dyers garden? However, given the fact that Woad has a tendency to take over spaces I think it may be better suited to a container or raised garden bed for ease of management.
- Perennial for zone 5a- will need to be contained
- This must be in a container as it is quite prolific and spreads. I live in Zone 5A so this will be a perennial plant. And woad’nt it be nice to have a full-on wild dyers garden? However, given the fact that Woad has a tendency to take over spaces I think it may be better suited to a container or raised garden bed for ease of management.
- Indigo
- I feel like this is the poster child for natural fabric dye. It has the potential to produce a richer blue. It requires processing right away which is a challenge I look forward to!
- Annual- will save seeds for next year, but maybe I could try mulching the area very well before the frost sets in and try to see if it will pop back up next year.
- I feel like this is the poster child for natural fabric dye. It has the potential to produce a richer blue. It requires processing right away which is a challenge I look forward to!
Hareloom & Hook 