Fiber Science 2: Homemade Wool Wash from Ivy Leaves

Come along with me on an experiment! In this video I make an all-natural wool wash from ivy leaves. All the details can be found here: dunkelgrun.com...
Yes.. I made detailed notes about the things I wanted to talk about and looked down on them way too much. Apologies for that! I'll try to do better next time!
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This video features the song Orbit (Instrumental Versions) by Josh Woodward which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. creativecommons...
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[@leighmclean1551]

I have lots of ivy in the garden and will definitely try this when it grows some new leaves. It is barely spring here in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦. I am so happy you are back doing your podcasts they are always so interesting. 🥰

[@bethr5273]

Gee, who would've thought you could wash your wool garments with ivy leaves?!! Fascinating, Anna! Your last few videos have been so interesting and informative. Love the "out takes" too! 😂

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Thank you Beth ❤️ so glad you enjoyed it!

[@christines1924]

From one chemist to another..Vielen Dank!

[@stephanienappa8459]

Cool experiment! I don't know if you noticed it in person, but on the screen it looked like the washed wool had a shine to it that the unwashed wool didn't. Also, I might need to knit that shawl pattern now, it's really cute! Your podcast is great, I love that you're discussing the intersection between fiber arts and science, in my previous career path as a chemist I was interested in doing the same thing (you do a much better job of it than me though!) I think you're doing a great job of making chemical concepts accessible to a wider audience and sharing the important message that everything we interact with is actually a chemical, so the words "chemical" or "chemistry" shouldn't be scary. Thanks so much for being such a great resource to the knitting community

[@kdgeckoknits274]

I have lots of ivy growing on my property. What a great use for ivy. It's good for the environment. The environment giving back to the environment. I may have said it before, I'm married to a physicist, so these scientific bits of information are greatly appreciated.

[@Marjan-creative]

Oh forgotten: I love the cathelp! ☺️

[@judyb.466]

There are some ivy leaves growing wild in my neighbors yards that are creeping over to mine. So next time I yank them out I'll collect the leaves and make this wool wash - thank you for your descriptive explanations and demonstration!

[@TRaceTK]

Oh how I love these science episodes!!

[@jennywren2395]

Great to hear the scientific basis for ivy leaf wool wash. I am a person who likes research based information as opposed to anecdotal info. Thanks Anna.

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Thank you Jenny!

[@singingwolfdyeworks2391]

Anna this is SO cool, I had no idea. We have tons of ivy around the house so I must try this. Thanks so much for this very useful info :-)

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Hi Diane! So cool! Hope your ivy wool washing experiments go well! And the best part of this plant is that it's evergreen :-)

[@NinjaChickens]

Ivy leaf is also a lovely herbal for respiratory congestion and inflammation. I used it often when I had a cat with mild asthma. Another fabulous video! Thank you, Anna!

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Thank you so much for adding this Maria! ❤️

[@littlebigknits]

Ninja Chickens yes and we have a cough syrup from Germany actually that contains ivy as a main ingredient!! Isn’t it amazing that it is good for such different things

[@knittingwithquills7008]

I am absolutely going to try this! Thank you for the science behind it.

[@mywoolmitten]

Brilliant! Very interesting, thank you

[@jennymullins593]

Thank you dunkelgrun for a very thorough & informative presentation. You cat is identical to my cat, Patchy. I would have covered him, & later I would've found him on top just like you cat was! I was given a Woolwash recipe using mild soap, metholated spirits & eucalyptus, but I am so impressed with your presentation, I really want to use Ivy Leaves. My only problem is where to find the exact variety... Surely all Ivy must have the same saponins, right?

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Hi! Sorry my reply comes very late, because my channel was in a bit of a hiatus. The saponins in the ivy leaves is likely to vary between species, but also from location to location and year to year. But you could just give it a try! If it didn’t wash well you might try more leaves next time. Greetings to your kitty ❤️

[@dandeliondreamspodcast9469]

This is so neat! I love this idea, I have been wondering what to use washing my knits, and we have Ivy growing all over in our area. Huzzah!

[@knittingthestash]

awesome, Anna!! This new series is incredible :) Always happy to learn from you!

[@BettySusanne]

I had no idea! Thanks for educating me. Can’t wait to try it! 😍

[@GoodWitchKnits]

This. Blew. My. Mind. I worked for years leading environmental restoration crews in Portland. We removed acres of English Ivy, invasive in the PNW. I had NO IDEA this plant had potential beneficial uses. Thank you for this super informative video. I'll be volunteering on an ivy pull this weekend - I'm going to snag some when we're done and give making this detergent a try! Do you think making a big batch of the "tea" would keep as a liquid detergent?

[@corir207]

you can put some in the fridge - but it wont last for many days. some people use it for doing their dishes as well ;)

[@corir207]

Thanks for the chemical analysis! So it was acidic after all! Horse chestnut does not make things soft, unfortunately - but clean well :)

[@strawberrypatches8742]

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing, Anna!

[@iamnoraling]

So ein tolles Video, danke dafür! Ich habe eine Zeit lang meine normale Wäsche mit Kastanien gewaschen, das hat auch sehr gut funktioniert :)

[@kathleenkennedy2090]

Thanks for the info, think I'll try ivy wash. I have soap wort right outside my door and want to try that also.

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Oh yes, this should work also! Let me know how it goes if you feel like! 😊

[@Knittingilove]

I need to try it we have plenty of ivy here

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Hey Barbara! I would be super curious to know how you liked it if you try it out 😉

[@valeriafaber3415]

Thank you Anna, always precious!

[@joukjewijnholds390]

Wow! This is really amazing!! Washing your wool with ivy leaves :))))

[@christaprice4090]

Fantastic Anna!!!, love this!

[@ludouglas1]

How utterly fascinating and amazing. I think our ivy leaves emit a sticky substance? These are the variegated ivy leaves here. I wonder if the sticky milky substance is okay in this instance? Hmmm...I might have to go steal from my my lovely neighbour hahahahah. Lu x

[@MagritVideo]

Thank you so much - I must try this wash !

[@Marjan-creative]

Wow, that is handy! I saw the water beïng a bit green; would that be 'dangerous' whilst washing wite wool?

[@tracyrobbins6248]

I'm inspired Anna, thanks!

[@linuxwitch]

*Thank you* for the pH info on this method. :)

[@ElinT13]

Tolles Video, vielen Dank, das werde ich auch mal probieren, denn das ist nicht nur günstig, sondern auch natürlich! Wie heißt denn Dein süßer Helfer?

[@corellias240]

Can you use dried ivy leaves?

[@nearysamai2231]

Maybe I shouldn’t keep pulling out my ivy from the garden. I love your cat. That’s what my cats do.

[@cikascreative8241]

Thank you for this inspiring video! I think birch leaves would work too ? I'll try that since ivy doesn't grow wild in Finland : )

[@byNightCreations]

Thank you so much! Tonight, I'll block the shawl I just finished with your receipe!

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Ohh I am curious to find out how you like it!

[@byNightCreations]

Btw, Have you ever tried dyeing with it? It's been on my mind for a while now but there's so much growing in my garden I got to find a use to it ;-)

[@dunkelgrun1425]

ByNight Creations No I haven’t! I guess it could give a yellow with development possibilities to greens with iron 😉

[@68868s]

Also, I want to dye my yarn. What do you recommend that might be natural.

[@Maria-Ortodoxa]

It sounds like I should wash my hair with it since washing it with soap requires an acidic rinse afterwards.

[@68868s]

What kind of Ivy leaves do you use? Is all Ivy leaves the same?

[@suelowther5104]

Ivy , who would of thought !

[@michimini]

Hello, Anna. I would like to know if you think quinoa could be used to wash wool, since it has saponins. European ivy is not easy to find here in Perú, but we alwasys have quinoa in our pantry. I love your videos!

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Hi Coy! I don’t know how high the saponin content in quinoa is, maybe you have to let them soak overnight. But I would say give it a try!

[@michimini]

dunkelgrün Thank you for your answer. I'll try that!

[@dunkelgrun1425]

Coy C if you shake the water and it makes foam that stays for some time you are on a good way 😉

[@michimini]

dunkelgrün 👍

[@leewilliam3417]

Mnmmm😊