Okay i am still procrastinating on a larger/more comprehensive post but heres some of the colors i have so far from lichens, both AM and BWM (Ammomia method, sometimes called ammonia fermentation but there's no actual bacterial activity; then the boiling water method, literally what it sounds like)
I took them under 3 different indoor light sources to try to show the variance of the colors, sadly not the sun as it is hiding behind the clouds as of late
from left to right: first two lavender-like purple are silk, dyed with an fuzzily-ID'd lecanora/ochrolechia like lichen that was AM prepared; the second one used the same lichens but prepared different (second ammonia soak)
the third one is wool using a similar lichen that was also AM prepared, i was almost worried it wouldnt work/i messed up the vat because i set the pH too low but surprisingly it didn't brown out and turned a lovely pink salmon color
the white is the base color of the silk
the fifth one is some french angora rabbit that i dyed using ruffle lichens via the BWM method; a lovely intense orange
the 6th and 8th were dyed with ruffle lichens (BWM) as well a long time ago so i don't recall the details
the 7th was dyed with usnea lichens (BWM) around the same time as 6 and 8
Finally, the last two tiny strings were AM dyed a long time ago and i almost forgot about making them!
Of course, all lichens should be collected from deadfall, not directly from a tree/rock/etc to avoid overharvesting. It's also important to keep chemical safety in mind if you work with ammonia, or even things like alum and vinegar!
All the yarn was spun myself on a drop spindle too, after dyeing the fiber clouds (very technical term i know)
I have more posts i want to make on lichen dyes and the making/using thereof once i get my head screwed back on correctly, specifically some recent shenanigans concerning the first three yarns! the chemical pigment itself, the history, the troubleshooting, etc. Which i think will be very cool
Bonus drop spindle, and a ruffle lichen comparison!
You can even see an orange spot on the otherwise minty slate green of the ruffle lichens where it had started to decompose!
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