It seemed only natural that my plant dyeing experiments would extend to looking at fungi dyes. After attending an amazing workshop at Botanical Colors in Seattle last autumn with Julie Beeler of the Mushroom Color Atlas, I decided I wanted my final Woolly Originals design to tell the story of the humble mushroom.
At first, I considered the shape of various mushrooms: from webcaps to rollrims to boletes. But more intriguing is the fine network of filaments called mycelium that connect the sprouting mushrooms to each other and to their habitat.
Among its many functions, the mycelium can provide nutrients for the mushrooms; help decompose plant material especially wood; transport water; and provide a food source for many soil invertebrates.
The pattern I have designed is my interpretation of the weaving filaments of the mycelium. The colours chosen for the design have come from mushroom dyes, namely:
- paint fungus
- lobster mushroom
- velvet rollrim
- surprise webcap and
- marsh webcap.
Dyeing with mushrooms is a very special experience. The temperature and acidity of the dye bath combined with mordanting and modifying can create a rainbow of beautiful colours.
These bags will be for sale at the Woolly Good Gathering in Edinburgh on 4th and 5th April. Any remaining will then be available online at the end of April.
