Dyeing Yarn with Lichen
Parmelia sulcata
... or the common name shield lichen, a fungus, was the spark for this project. I have seen these gray, flat, fat “leaves” that grow on Gary oak branches before- little did I know just how interesting this species really was. It was at Summit Park on September 20, 2020 when I first identified it and began my journey learning about them.
I discovered what many already knew, that lichen was in fact two species working together. In the case of the shield lichen, its a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi. I had to know more. I looked at the history of Summit Park to see that the land was cultivated by Songhees First Nation Lekwungen people. I could not find any evidence that they specifically used the shield lichen for anything; however, many Wsanec peoples did use lichen to treat ailments. Which ailment depended on what type of tree the lichen was harvested from. Alright, I’m not making medicine.
Instead I saw that this lichen has be used to make a red-brown dye, and I wanted to try that out. Below is my attempt at dyeing two types of yarn with lichen from Summit Park!
Parmelia sulcata
The Process
Step 1. Collecting fallen lichen
Step 1. Collecting fallen lichen
Step 1. Collecting fallen lichen
Lichens often have a very slow growth rate of less than a millimeter per year. It was important to only gather lichen that had already fallen.
The yield
Step 1. Collecting fallen lichen
Step 1. Collecting fallen lichen
I gathered the lichen over a month.
A few other species of lichen also make their way into my collection as well.
Step 2. Adding Yarn + Water
Step 1. Collecting fallen lichen
Step 2. Adding Yarn + Water
At this step I was experimenting. While my research said soaking the lichen as-is would take months to produce an effect, I found after a few days the yarn I added began to change color.
Step 3. Time to cook!
Step 4. washing the yarn
Step 2. Adding Yarn + Water
I found that another process people use to dye with lichen is to boil it for hours. I used the soaking lichen + water to continue my experimentation.
After an hour-
Step 4. washing the yarn
Step 4. washing the yarn
OK-This is where I realized I made a mistake. WOW this stuff STINKS. Do not do this inside! But wow this is actually working, I added more yarn in an attempt to get multiple shades.
Step 4. washing the yarn
Step 4. washing the yarn
Step 4. washing the yarn
The moment of truth - time to wash each section and remove any lichen stuck to the yarn. Will the dye disappear when washed?
I used two types of yarn:
#1: 100% Mercerized Cotton
#2: 100% Pure New Wool (in this photo)
The Results
#1: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Well, I'm calling this a failure... or a learning experience!
This is not the way to dye 100% Mercerized Cotton.
#2: 100% Pure New Wool
Very pleased with these results. The bundles on the ends are undyed yarn, and around each dyed bundle is the original undyed yarn as well.
From left to right I will letter these A to F:
First A + F were soaked in the water and lichen mixture for three days.
A is the result of soaking.
F went on to be cooked as well.
Next I cooked the remaining yarn for varying amounts of time.
B cooked for the last half hour.
C cooked for the second hour.
D cooked for the first hour.
E + F cooked in the water and lichen for two hours.
I had planned to create something with the dyed yarn- not knitted but an landscape image or a sculpture wrapped in yarn. However, seeing how the simple presentation looks quite nice, I am going to stop here rather than go on and make something that would turn out possibly quite tacky.
I have snipped the ends, thus signaling the end of dying yarn with lichen.