Dyeing with Daffodils and Scotch Broom

 I gathered Daffodils and Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) and soaked them for 6 days, bringing them to a simmer twice.  I used only the petals on the daffodils and the flowers plus some of the young tips on the Scotch Broom.  The liquids had a brownish color, and I was a bit pessimistic about getting a nice color.  I used about 3 cups of daffodil flowers and covered them with water.  The Scotch Broom was more plentiful, and I soaked about 6 cups in a gallon of water.

 The wool yarn was alum mordanted.  I soaked it in water for 30 minutes before immersing in simmering dye bath.  I left the dye bath at simmer for an hour, and then I removed the yarn and rinsed it.
The Daffodils have a surprisingly strong golden yellow color.

The Scotch Broom gave a lighter and brighter yellow with tints of green.  I am very pleased with both samples.  I am saving the dye bath to use on larger items.  I also have some cotton which I have mordanted in tannin and now is in an alum mordant that I can try.

That's what's out there in nature right now.


Skein on the left is Dharma Trading Licorice Twist Merion Wool dyed with the Scotch Broom.  The yarn has a twist in it that picked up a darker tint.  Nice.  The scarf is silk dyed with Eucalyptus.

Big beautiful bowl of Scotch Broom flowers.  I am wondering if including many of the yellow-red type of flowers didn't give a greener shade.  Next time I will pick only the yellow and see.