Anyone who has ever picked elderberries before will know that they stain your hands a beautiful purple colour. But could this common berry be used for dyeing yarn, and would that colour stand the test of time? After a foraging foray in October 2023, I decided to reserve some elderberries for a dyeing experiment. Traditional […]
preventive
Moth Myths: Protecting Your Textile Treasures (PieceWork, Summer 2023)
Have you ever opened your yarn stash to see a moth fly out or noticed that your favorite sweater has small bites taken out of it? Read my latest article in PieceWork Summer 2023 to learn more about preventing moths. The internet and old wives’ tales are rife with advice on how to prevent a […]
Conservation of Color (Spin Off, Spring 2022)
The new issue of Spin Off is available now which includes my latest article, Conservation of Color. My article clarifies the science behind color in textiles and how dyes attach to fibers. Have you noticed your lovingly handmade textiles fading? I also explain why dyes lose their vibrancy over time and how you can reduce […]
When Moths Attack Part II: Eradication and Prevention
Haven’t read When Moths Attack Part I: Introduction and Identification? Click here! Now that you know what types of moths cause damage and how to identify them, I’m going to cover how to eradicate them and prevent them from coming back. However, as always, please don’t use these methods with historic textiles! They are very […]
When Moths Attack Part I: Introduction and Identification
Introduction One of the scariest things for a textile crafter is seeing a moth fly out of your precious stash of fibers and yarns. But how do you know if you have a moth infestation, how do you get rid of it, and how do you stop it from happening again? The enemies are the […]