22 April 2021

Spicy Avocado

My most recent jar of avocado skin/pit dye didn't produce as vivid tones as I'd hoped. I think most of the avocado dyes I've been using through the winter are third and fourth dip. I did the freeze/thaw cycle on this dip because I've found the dyes seem to adhere better if I let them dry before I attempt to wash. Freezing overnight and then thawing also seems to richen the colors. We had two snow accumulations while I let the yarn dry.

I did get some lovely tone variation, but I'd like a little more depth. So, back in the dye jar this hank went, and I consolidated all of my brewing dye jars into that one jar. Some of those jars have been going since August. They may not have much pigment left, so I may have to give this hank a third soak, but for now, it looks pretty in the jar. It's on the porch now with two more hanks I started two and three weeks ago.

I started three new jars of avocado pit dye and one new jar of avocado skin dye. It's warm enough they can sit on the porch now, but I kept the fluid levels down just in case it does freeze overnight. I don't need any more broken Mason jars!

We had a record low of 13 degrees Monday night! Good thing it came with enough snow to blanket the flowers that have been fooled into spring! 13 degrees would have wiped them all out!

The jars survived. Thank heavens!

Lizard loves to watch when I start new avocado dye jars. The color deepens pretty quickly the first day, and he's amazed every time. He couldn't believe the starting hue while I was grinding up the pits in my thrift store blender. (Kitchenware should never be used for cooking once it's been used for dyeing, so I opt for super cheap dyeing tools by buying them used.) Lizard said the crushed avocado pits remind him of a good bowl of chili with cheese. The color is rather similar!

Linking up with Alycia Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

8 comments :

  1. Glad the recent snow and cold didn’t cause your jars to break! I did not know about grinding up avocado pits! So interesting!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, GrammaJudyB! I was glad I didn't have broken glass, too. That is such a drag!!! I'm enjoying every single avocado dye jar to the fullest. I probably use them too long, but the colors, even when faint, are so beautiful!

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  2. So cool. I have never done that kind of dyeing, very interesting.

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    1. Thank you, Chris. This is about the only form of natural dyeing I've stuck with. Lichens are fun, but I'm not sure that's sustainable. Onion skins are a hoot, but if you use them for wearables, the colors change where you perspire. Need I say more? Everything else is a bit too fugitive for me. I like the color to stay!

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  3. I'll be interested to see the yarn when it dries. Here's hoping your flowers survive wearing their blanket of snow!

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    1. Thank you, Joy! The flowers did survive and thrive! I'm having a blast photographing them! And I think I might pull the yarn out of the jars again this weekend to see if the color has deepened. Fingers crossed!

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  4. I'm with Lizard - I was thinking salsa!! haha! Love the colors these make!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Alycia! I love avocado dyeing. And I love to eat avocados, so a match made in heaven!

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