It’s been a while since I wrote a blog post on natural dyeing. I must admit it is probably because I have a lot to juggle. It’s now the end of September, and it’s harvest time. This is a blog post on golden rod dyeing experiments, also known as solidago. Goldenrods are perennials that come back every year. Once established, it is easy to grow, like weeds needling very little care except pruning. Well at least in London where I am based.
I have been looking into dyeing with Golden Rod. In my opinion, it’s not as colourfast as weld. It will never replace weld.
How to dye with golden rod
To obtain vibrant bright yellows from a golden rod requires freshly harvested flowers. Simmer over low heat it produces vibrant yellow. I have yet to die from frozen flowers. When golden rod is dried it doesn’t produce any dye or if it ever does it’s pale brown and the leaves look brown or grey.
Below is cotton fabrics dyed with golden rod the one on top is fresh golden rod flowers with alum mordants paste to make it brighter. And below is a day old golden rod leaves and flowers.
In the past, I have tried to dry the flowers but all it did was ripen even more and end up becoming seed. This is all in sharp contrast to weld. However, it is much easier to grow than weld as it comes back every year there is no issue with the slugs feasting on them when they are young.
Some dyers have successfully dyed yellow with dried golden rods. But it was careful drying with flower heads still intact and not gone to seed. Goldenrod seeds look like ‘wool fluff’ compared to flower heads. I suspect my lot of dried golden rod probably went mouldy in my damp studio/ shed. so I probably try harder this year.
I have dyed from fresh leaves and they also produce yellow perhaps a bit less vibrant but yellow. I did not use any mordant in my experiment perhaps I should as golden rod contains flavonoids.
Thank you for dropping by. Do have a read about my other dye tips like dyeing with logwood
