How to Dye with Pokeberry I Pokeweed @WildcraftDyeing

[@vickimas]

Omg seeing the beautiful results you get is so satisfying! Thank you for documenting this process for others to see! ❤

[@kristalburns3490]

Insane colors!

[@WildcraftDyeing]

Right? I LOVE the fuschia with no heat. I have some year a friend did 10 years ago and it’s still super bright.

[@stefaniatorino9030]

Thank you, this is a very informative video!

[@WildcraftDyeing]

My pleasure! Thank you so much. :)

[@AnimeShinigami13]

I've only ever gotten scarlet pokeberry dye ONCE. ONCE! I mixed a little kapok into the wool when I spun that yarn and the pokeberry scarlet had very christmasy red and white markings. So for the record, kapok will not take up dye!

[@WildcraftDyeing]

Good to know! It’s so hard to dial into the exact colour with this dye.

[@slavkanovosad]

Thank you for this! I tried following Carol Leigh's recipe today but it all turned to brown when I heated up the berries. I wonder how it worked for her?! I'll definitely try your tips for a new batch tonight and hope for pinks :)

[@WildcraftDyeing]

I’m so sorry it didn’t work the first time. I hope this video helps. I’ve messed around a little more and it really seems like you can’t make the process much shorter. The overnight soaks are key and no heat for the pinks. Keep me posted! :)

[@slavkanovosad]

@@WildcraftDyeing You're definitely right and I'm so glad I found your video! :) I tried another batch (pre soaked fibers + berries) and let it all soak without heat. The colour is actually quite nice darker purple, so not bright pink that I was hoping for! Might be because the berries I picked were already wilting a little. I'll wash my fibers tomorrow to see the result and might do another batch if I can still find some fresh looking berries! Looks like it's a lot of trial and error but always exciting to experiment :)

[@WildcraftDyeing]

@slavkanovosad yay!!! So glad to hear you are getting in the pinks and purples. So glad to hear you are having fun dyeing. I do too! 💕 🧶 🍄‍🟫

[@Knifelbows]

Gorgeous colors! Is there any point in the dye making process where the dye is no longer poisonous?

[@WildcraftDyeing]

Hmm, I think it depends on what you mean. At no point would I consider the dye vat to be edible but you can dye with it and use the fiber and the dyed fiber isn’t poisonous. I have a video on the ethics of natural dyeing that goes through dyeing with poisonous materials more. It’s on my channel if you’re interested.

[@amidragonfly]

I left a used-once no-heat pokeweed dye bath sitting on the deck for a week and a half. I tried to use it today with heat to get the red and orange but it stayed purple the entire time! Even up past 210 F! Thoughts? I'm bummed I didn't get the other colors but I'm curious to see if the heat will help or hinder the purple color light fastness. (Fellow Ecologist PhD turned natural dyer here btw 😄)

[@WildcraftDyeing]

Yay!!! That’s awesome! Forest Science Aunties of the world unite. That is super interesting- it sounds like the colour set because at 210F the purple should have been toast. I’ll noodle on it. 🤔

[@WildcraftDyeing]

Or Forest Science Non-gender specific beings of the world unite. Whatever works. :)

[@amidragonfly]

I left it to stew in the cooling dye bath and it did turn a darker purpley red after an hour or so. I'll play around with it some more. 😃

[@phoebebaker1575]

I think it’s the pit/seed of the berry that is poisonous. You can make pokeberry jam if you strain the seeds out.

[@WildcraftDyeing]

Yes! There’s a whole rich history of it as a traditional food source. I’m such a chicken when it comes to covering the edibility of dye sources. :)

[@Sol-Amar]

How does it taste?

[@phoebebaker1575]

I’ve never made jam but I tried a few berries. They were bitter. Not something you’d really want to eat voluntarily. (And I spit the seeds out.)

[@Sol-Amar]

@@phoebebaker1575 Interesting, thanks for sharing that. I appreciate the response!

[@smelly4498]

something else to note is that pokeweed can cause rashes similar to poison ivy if handled without gloves, so be mindful around the plant when harvesting :)

[@WildcraftDyeing]

Definitely! Gloves and I’ve started using these gardening sleeves which I’m loving. Thanks for the note - safety needs to be #1.

[@declangould7816]

I didn’t know this, I’ve been using it to stain my skin for years😭🤣