Now this is a sorry sight. The rhubarb patch is mostly fallen and probably not fit for human consumption. But that is not a problem my friends because I'm not going to eat it. I'm going to use the last stalks to dye some baby shoes.When the stalks are picked and cleaned, things are looking up already.
And in the pot they look almost good enough to eat. I didn't measure the stalks or the water, but the water should float well over the stalks. I boiled the stalks for a good hour or so. Then I crushed them in the pot and boiled the some more and sieved the liquid carefully. Then I boiled the shoes in the dye for half an hour, stirring occasionally. Last I turned the stove off, added a splash of vinegar and stirred well. Then I rinsed the lot and felted them in the washing machine at 60° (140F).
The shoes really don't look like much before felting.
But when they are felted and ready for decoration, things are looking much better don't you agree?
|