each morning begins with collecting the flowers. i bring the harvest to my dye studio where i lay the day’s collection out to dry, and i start my dye pot for the day. this routine unfolds into a journey of unknown color mixing, over-dyeing, and careful observation. sometimes the result is a vibrant color surprise, often the outcome is a shade of yellow, and every single time i learn something new. i get lost in sorting my rainbow, making sure each piece is tagged with it’s unique recipe, and thinking about ways to use up the fabric bounty. i am taken over by this rhythm and suddenly i notice the sun is setting. at night i look to my natural dye books* and plan for tomorrow’s dye pots.

*see the end of the newsletter for the books and resources that i refer to for inspiration.



the first thing i made with the bounty was this needle book with an essential pocket. i always have a needle book or pin cushion close by, but i wanted something that i could tuck small snips and thread in to. i added a pocket for a perfect little book that fits in my pocket. i keep one in my knitting bag as well, the little pocket is just the right size for stitch markers and my needle tips. i loved this project so much that i turned it into a free sewing tutorial and added a small collection of plant-dyed fabric bundles to my shop so you can make your own. 



and what to do with all the plant-dyed trimmings? i am obsessed with finding a use for my remnants, and these little scraps feel extra precious. i began piecing together a crazy mini scrap quilt, working each piece within a color family. it is a perfect wind-down project for me. do you need something meditative as the season begins to shift? i’ll be posting a giveaway soon on instagram for a full rainbow of my plant-dyed wool felt scraps.



find the needle book with pocket along with my other favorite ‘traveling studio essentials’ in my collection of over 50 free sewing tutorials.  happy stitching!



PS: myra loves plant-dyed wool felt scraps too.

NATURAL DYE RESOURCES: Wild Color by Jenny Dean, Natural Palettes by Sasha Duerr, Quilt Alchemy by Sara Larson Buscaglia, and The Modern Natural Dyer by Kristine Vejar

 Botanical Colors is a wealth of information, both their website and workshops.