My next step was to use the avocado skins for dyeing. Again, the instructions varied. Some said to tear the skins, others use whole. I went with using the whole skins.
I used approximately the same amount of wool, thick and thin yarn, silk habatoi, silk gauze and cotton voile. What I did differently this time was to put everything in before it was heated. I felt this would save some time waiting to put in the wool after cooling. I’m not sure this changed the outcome.
I let the pot come to a boil, left it to simmer for almost an hour. Then let it sit overnight to cool.
The results were interesting and different from the pits. The color was like a latte for the wool and silk. The cotton was a very pale pink.
Again, I added the fabrics and wool before heating, heated to boiling then simmered for almost an hour and left it all sit overnight. I wondered if the colors would be brighter and more intense with the addition of the alum.
Here are the results:
The result a little more coppery except for the cotton.
Now here they are next to each other. From left to right – pits, skins, pits and skins with alum.
They are all lovely colors. Now to figure what to do with them. And yes, I’ll continue to save my avocados.