#bayberry

@superson3oz

よく通る道で、この間までオリーブのような小さな緑の実が木の下にいっぱい落ちてたんだけど、最近になって見覚えのある赤い実に変わったと思ったら、これがヤマモモではないですか❣️見上げればたくさんの実が❣️❣️ しかし足元にも落ちた実がたくさん…、道を埋め尽くしていて仕方なく踏んで歩くしかないという…。 もったいないけど拾うのも気が引けて、ちょっと綺麗目なのを3粒ばかりお持ち帰りしてきました。

ヤマモモは以前（調べたら8年前）六本木のヒルズマルシェで産地の方から買ったことがあり、砂糖漬けにしてシロップを作ったのですが、約1年後に漬け終わった実をベランダの植え込みに埋めたところ、なんと発芽したんですよ。1年間も砂糖水に浸かっていたというのに！ まぁ結局移植が上手くいかずにその後は枯れたのですが、この時はなんという生命力かと驚いたものです。

[a terrible practice in what not to do when plant dying: an example]

every year family friend send us expensive premium giant!!!!! waxberry/bayberry/idk what english speaking ppl usually call it. they delicious!! only slightly smaller than mouth open widest

n every year there juice inside package. this year had idea do plant dying. < impulse decision

not prepared. have unmordanted cashmere yarn (really inexpensive got second hand idk if it real) & unmordanted cotton fabric. this be interesting.

[id: left picture show waxberry, there 4 stack on top of eachother in small bowl size of hand. right picture have bowl of waxberry & bowl with little juice with fruit fork in it & cone of yarn n some already dyed pieces on paper. end id]

grabbed white vinegar as “last minute mordant”, n to be honest was just at most dip soak, few seconds at best, so it do anything? shrug

mid way realize should probably pre wash fiber (should specifically scour but ehhhhh)—especially for this cashmere (“cashmere”) yarn because for easy (machine) knit it been coated with something that help cashmere down not get all fluffy fuzzy hard knit with. n you suppose wash out after knit n yarn will bloom n be softer. so, thought may affect dying. so pre washed some samples before dye. by “wash,” specifically mean run under regular temperature water for like some seconds until complete wet n maybe use hand soap. it do anything? shrug again

n also. know animal protein & plant fiber sometimes have different dye process. but ehhh *throw hands*. proceed “mordant” one of cotton scrap same process as wool yarn.

previous dye experience: need heat source. last time was get help keep boil. this time too little liquid n don’t want get help boil anyway. so got help put in microwave…

[id: line up final product taped on white paper. labeled as yes/no prewash, white vinegar, & heat. there 5 pieces for yarn with varying amounts. all yarn visually look same color & stiff. there 2 piece cotton fabric. they look same as eachother but slightly more vibrant than yarn. end id]

result is…. everything pretty much look same.

because like. yeah. “mordanted” but not really, not suprise 10 20 second dip in room temp white vinegar going make giant difference. microwave for 10 seconds especially without proper scour mordant fixative, also doubt make big difference.

but, is really pretty color. it prettier in liquid, n when squeeze liquid out, get more muted, but still very pretty color, pinkish purplish. beet color but lighter?

n this without wash afterwards—found that. when wash, because not soak for long, n not mordant fixative properly, not heat properly, color mostly get out. some color still stay n become more of a muted almost pastel (as pastel as natural dye can be). n normally like pastel, but want keep this as waxberry-like as possible. so, didn’t wash. result is keep about same color when dry, but stiff n not that soft, as expected.

was just for fun, not going make anything out of, not to wear, not going hang as decoration so not worried abt lightfastness. so, satisfy with whatever this is.

then, with leftover dye, didn’t want waste, so threw in as much vinager dipped yarn as can cover liquid. heat it n let it be in heat for 20 minutes.

bad lighting, but. when wet:

[id: very saturated reddish pink yarn in bowl stained slightly pink & brown. end id]

n after, still damp so feel softer:

[id: first photo two small skein of yarn in pinkish purplish color on top of plant notebook. second photo in ball with one strand yarn lighter than rest. end id]

same yarn, main color difference because lighting not because inherent yarn.

except that one strand lighter than rest—that was test how yarn look like how much dye actually took with all improper but still slightly more effort process (more heat, longer). took more dye than when no heat or 10 second heat, but still visibly lighter.

when dry, that washed strand much softer than rest of stiff unwashed yarn. unwashed yarn slightly darker than previous attempts.

now room reeks of white vinegar.

but. will be enjoying delicious waxberry for rest of week >:)))

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google search results: “did you mean: how NOT to dye natural fibers”

northern bayberry.

if you’ve ever come across a natural bayberry candle, this is where they come from! the berries are coated in a thick layer of sweet-scented, grayish wax.

Earlier this year, I went about rendering wax from Bayberries for the first time in my life. The experience was a bit painstaking, but I am grateful for what I learned in the process, and for the wax I managed to get from it in the end. I look forward to using it in special rites and celebrations.