Dyeing Wool with Virginia Creeper

Our front fence is covered with Virginia creeper / Parthenocissus quinquefolia (which I mistakenly thought was hedera helix).Now that it’s fall, we pruned it as it grew vigorously during summer.

With all the leaves and berries leftover from the plant, I got my hands on dyeing!

-I filled a stainless steel pot with the leaves and berries,

-added rainwater, 

-simmered for about 40 minutes,

-with the plant material left in pot, added alum mordanted wool skeins,

-simmered for additional 40 minutes or so,

-left the pot overnight to cool.

The color turned into a lovely bright green-yellow.