Monday, October 4, 2010

Roses Are Red...

After cutting some of the last roses in my yard, I just couldn't waste the lovely green leaves... So I tried using them to dye cotton.

Here is the entire half metre piece and there are a few longish Eucalyptus leaves I threw in, as well.
And this piece is now basted and ready to quilt.






5 comments:

arlee said...

tell me what i'm doing wrong! no matter what i do with the leaves, i get a splatch of colour and no leaf shape!!! these are so yummy

Yvonne said...

I spread leaves on half the cotton, covered it with the other half, folded in three and again into three, used one large loose elastic band around it a couple of times and immersed it in a steamer pot filled with water, with a bit of alum (first time I've used it and no measuring - maybe a half teaspoon?) and then let it 'cook' for two hours. Have you been using a mordant? Or maybe the leaf types you are trying are of a more flimsy variety? I don't have answers really, just guessing.

arlee said...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! You are a Blossom!That's more info than i've found any where believe it or not--will try that today with some rose leaves i pruned from the neighbour's garden.

arlee said...

It WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

Yvonne said...

So glad - and you're very welcome!