Turkey Tail Mushrooms for Dye

March 6--Found some Turkey tail mushrooms gorwing on a decaying pine log in the Pygmy Forest.  This black and green striped mushroom, Trametes versicolor or

Coriolis versicolor, is sometimes used for dyeing.

I washed the mushrooms, about 1 cup, broke them into pieces (the directions said to mash but they were too dry), and covered them with water. They simmered for an hour, at 185 degrees, and produced kind of a grey looking liquid, I may experiment further, or put in a bit of yarn, one knot for alum mordant as per Mushrooms for Color by Miriam Rice. I did see glints of green in the depths of the dye pot; maybe I will try again tomorrow, reheat and brew. March 7--put small (one knot) strand of mordanted wool into dye pot, simmered 190 degrees 1 hour.  Forgot to wet first, part mustard yellow, part almost no change