Headed for a dye-fest

When I was a hapless teenager and just moved out of home, I couldn’t quite figure out the whole separating whites from darks from colours business when I did the weekly laundry, so I ended up with a pile of grubby-looking whites to wear.

Around the same time, I discovered the beauty of hand-dyeing; I loved how it gave a second life to tired-looking clothes, and particularly zingy lift to silk chinois-style tops and simple underwear. I think a lemon-yellow bra strap slightly visible under a white cotton shift looks cute, say, or a fuscia petticoat peeking out from under a frock. And there’s something lovely about the mottled effect it gives old, crushed silk.

This week, I’m planning a dye-fest. But starting tomorrow, when I don’t have the wee one, or have to worry about turning Olive emerald green by accident, in an I Capture the Castle moment…

It’s been a while, so when I’m feeling brave I’m going to attempt making some of India Flint’s home-made dyes from vegetables, leaves and the like and putting them to use. For d(ye)vine inspiration, check out her beautiful book, Eco Colour.

One item which will be finding its way into the dyeing pot is this age-stained old linen tablecloth, bequeathed to me by my dear friend Catherine. I’m thinking pale blue, with a touch of lavender.