Yes, but not for 25 years. The process I used was kind of stinky, and a little involved (I was modifying a historical recipe, but using commercial ammonia rather than making my own from urine) but it worked just fine. I even illegally grew woad for the experiment.
I'm starting from leaves too, though they're not illegal here! And yes, I think I'll be using dilute ammonia rather than my own urine, because yuck. I've had a look, and it seems like recipes are either your basic chop, boil, steep, ammoniate, aerate and dip-dye, or are some sort of complex fermentation process. I suspect the neighbours would prefer if I did it the short way and not the fermenting way. How hard was it to keep air bubbles out? (This is my first foray into dying.)
Is it restricted in all of the US? I mean, the PNW is practically crying "come, turn me into a vast expanse of woad!" but I wouldn't think it would be as invasive elsewhere. (Even at 16, I was very careful about cutting off seed pods before they could mature.)
I used one of the fermented recipes, but I was mostly interested in the historical process. But let me see (I should have a book here...) Jenny Dean (Wild Color) shows some really nice results using color run remover and washing soda, though she also gives directions for a urine bath and yeast vat (though the colors there are more prosaic.)
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I used one of the fermented recipes, but I was mostly interested in the historical process. But let me see (I should have a book here...) Jenny Dean (Wild Color) shows some really nice results using color run remover and washing soda, though she also gives directions for a urine bath and yeast vat (though the colors there are more prosaic.)
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