Some of my favorite native dye plants....

In the Mint family, I often enjoy dyeing with Chocolate Mint, Lemon Balm, & Spearmint - either individually or mixed together in the dye pot.  They are all members of the Genus Mentha; culinary and aromatic herbs.  The dye is extracted from the stems and leaves and yields a deep gray in an iron pot.

Tsuga Canadensis, the Eastern Hemlock, is an evergreen tree found in the Appalachian mountains that may soon disappear from our landscape.  Once a very common evergreen, with short, soft needles, the hemlock is now dying at a rapid rate as a small woolly adelgid sucks the life out of these majestic trees.  When they started falling around my home, I decided to experiment by dyeing wool after collecting and preparing the outer and inner bark.  I was pleased with the results, which yielded a good shade of tan in an iron pot, and  cinnamon in a copper pot.

A rich golden dye can be achieved by dyeing with Osage Orange, a member of the Mulberry family. The yellow wood is ground and then used as the dye stuff.

Various size skeins of wool are available for sale from late 2010 summer dye baths.  The soft, natural shades exhibit variation throughout the skeins; a trait that can not be found in industrially dyed yarns.  Every dye bath is unique, filling every dye day with anticipation!

20 years later and still "knappin'!"

Flint-knapping has been defined as the process of making lithic tools by striking a hammerstone or antler against another stone. Through controlled strikes, flakes of stone fall away until the desired tool is formed and complete. More commonly seen are points (arrowheads), scrapers, blades, and the like, which were traditionally used by prehistoric cultures throughout the world.

Over 20 years ago, my dear friend, Clark Sams, introduced me to the art of flint-knapping, and patiently taught me the precise skills needed to become proficient in primitive skills. Soon, thereafter, I had the pleasure of working and studying with, Dr. Errett Callahan, internationally known as a primitive skills technologist and master flint-knapper. In addition to being extremely knowledgeable in all hands-on primitive skills, Dr. Callahan also founded The Society of Primitive Technology.   I am indebted to these two men, along with several other traditional knappers and educators, who have openly shared their knowledge and techniques with me.

I have always admired and marveled the skills and intuitiveness

of  the people who survived,against many odds, during Prehistoric times.

These people had a keen sense of oneness with the natural world, understanding what was needed to survive, as they struggled to endure a multitude of conditions.

It is my goal to keep  the ways of our earliest ancestors alive by re-creating

their tools using totally traditional techniques and methods.  To protect the archeological record, all of my work is signed using  a diamond scribe.  

Each handcrafted item that will be posted for sale on this blog, or shown at educational venues, are unique.   Traditional materials are used exclusively.

If you would like additional information or would like to inquire as to my availability to demonstrate at an interpretive event, please contact me at roanknapper@embarqmail.com

Bob Estep, Flint-knapper

A Dyer's Garden - Natural Colors from the Appalachian Mountains

Our 100% wool yarns are dyed by collecting native plants from the southern Appalachian

Mountains, in addition to using colors popular with the 18^th century colonists of this region.

Plant parts are harvested with conservation of the species in mind and then prepared for a

6 to 8 hour day of dyeing over an open fire.   The color is set by using the pot as the

 mordant.  Most commonly used are iron, copper, aluminum and brass pots.

You will notice variations in color between skeins and within skeins.  This desirable quality

 is acquired through the hand dyeing process and not commonly seen in manufactured yarns.

For a more in-depth description of the process,refer to the chapter on “Getting Acquainted with Plants,” in the new book,

Wildlife, Wildflowers, & Wild Activities:  Exploring Southern Appalachia, by Jennifer Bauer

To purchase skeins of yarn, contact me at highlandlady53@embarqmail.com