Susan uses plant materials for dyeing. She grows and collects most of it, obtaining the remainder from friends and colleagues. Below is the cover of her weaving log book, containing samples, notes and photographs of dyeing, materials, and activities.

A poem called "Spinning on the Rock".

The pages above show madder root, dyed wool and yarn samples, and photos of the dyeing process. Susan's friend and colleague Suzanne Grosjean uses a similar spectrum of colors, so the joint dyeing sessions are both a great social time and a productive work party.

Here we see samples dyed with woad and indigo, and plant information and dye recipes. Woad was used in the middle ages to dye fustian, which we know as denim, because it was a less expensive, though less colorfast, dye than indigo.

The dye spectrum below includes some of Susan's favorite dyes.

Walnut hulls, gathered from a local tree, Madder roots from Susan's garden, Goldenrod, St. John's Wort and Dockweed from Susan's field, Copper used as a mordant and a dye, Woad and Indigo purchased as powder.

This yarn was dyed with goldenrod collected in
Susan's field outside her studio.

to top of page