In the Oak Room, after observing students making “witch potions” using plants and other natural materials during outside free choice time, the teachers decided to introduce dying. Using natural materials, the children dyed yarn and then used their yarn help make their own hat, scarf or headband.
During this project we used natural dyes made from:
- Madder root
- Logwood heartwood
- Pomegranate rind
- Walnut hulls
- Cochineal Bug shells
Our first step was to look at pictures of the dye materials we were going to use and make observations about what we noticed. Students noticing which colors they saw in each individual picture. They noticed the different parts of the plants and bugs.
Each student predicted which color they thought the yarn would be for each of our different dyes. We made these images into flip books, so that students could use them for their comparisons to the actual jars of yarn dye. Sometimes predictions that we made based off our observations didn’t match the outcome, and that’s ok! Unexpected results are an opportunity to ask more questions, do more research, and experiment more.
With the Cochineal Bug dye baths, students were able to observe four shades made with four different amounts of dye.
Student: We looked at all of the pinks made from the bug dye.
Student: It turned kind of purple.
Student: It matches!
When looking at the Madder Root dye baths students were able to observe two shades made with two different amounts of dye as well as a third shade that was a mixture of Madder root and Cochineal Bug.
Student: I thought it was going to be yellow, because of the flower.
Student: The root on the picture looks like the dye.
In Pomegranate Rind dye baths, students were able to observe dye pooling and how that impacts the color of the yarn.
Student: This one is lighter on top and darker on the bottom.
Student: This yarn has dark spots on it.
After the yarn had soaked in the dye jars for days, it was ready for the next step. A teacher wore long gloves and used buckets for a cold water dye bath to prepare the yarn for our knitting project. Then we hung up the yarn to dry.
Student: Touch this, it feels super soft.
Once the yarn was dry, we were ready to start using it! We brought in a variety of knitting machines, and children each had a turn to weave the yarn into a machine before cranking the handle to begin their knitting project. With teacher support, children used the knitting machines to create their own woolen winter gear. Each student could chose to make a headband, a hat or a scarf.
This was a multi-step process that sparked other color ideas and connections to observations we have made in nature and our classroom environment. We are so proud of the Oak Room children and all of the hard work they’ve put in to create their own winter gear!
Reflection by Megan Tripp and Brit Schumaker, Oak Room Co-Teachers
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