How to Dye Yarn Yellow with Queen Anne's Lace

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Gather materials and prepare the yarn

Start by responsibly harvesting fresh Queen Anne's Lace — both the flowers and green parts — from a safe location, taking care with identification, since misidentification can lead you to pick a poisonous look-alike instead. If you'd like to preserve some blossoms for a later project, set them aside now. Wash your worsted or aran weight yarn thoroughly to remove any oils that could interfere with dyeing, and let it dry completely. Once dry, section the yarn into manageable lengths using rubber bands, which makes it much easier to handle through the rest of the process.

Step 2 — Prepare the Queen Anne's Lace dye bath

Fill a large pot or dye vat with water and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Add your fresh Queen Anne's Lace flowers and green parts, making sure they're fully submerged. Simmer the mixture for about 30 minutes, or until the water reaches your desired shade of yellow or yellowy-green. Strain out the plant material using your strainer or colander, and reserve the liquid — this is your dye bath for the next steps.

Step 3 — Mordant the yarn

Mordanting helps the dye adhere properly to the yarn's fibers. Mix 1 part alum with 9 parts water in a large container — for example, 1 cup of alum to 9 cups of water. Add your pre-washed, dried yarn to this solution and let it soak for about an hour, making sure every section is fully submerged. Once the hour is up, rinse the yarn well and squeeze out the excess liquid before setting it aside for dyeing.

Step 4 — Dye the yarn

Add your pre-mordanted yarn sections to the strained Queen Anne's Lace dye bath. Simmer gently for about an hour, stirring occasionally to help the colour distribute evenly across every section. After simmering, strain out the yarn and, for a more vibrant result, let it soak in the dyebath overnight so the colour has time to penetrate deeper into the fibers.

Step 5 — Rinse, dry, and finish

In the morning, rinse the yarn under cool water until the water runs clear. Squeeze out the excess liquid and hang the yarn to dry away from direct sunlight, which can cause the colour to fade prematurely. Allow it to air-dry completely before using or working with it. Once dry, weave in any ends and block the finished piece if desired for a neat result — your hand-dyed yellow yarn is ready to enjoy.

Frequently asked questions

How can I make my own yellow yarn using Queen Anne's Lace?
To make yellow yarn with Queen Anne's Lace, gather worsted or aran weight yarn made of 100% wool or a plant-based fiber like cotton or linen, along with fresh Queen Anne's Lace flowers and green parts, protective gloves, eye protection, a large pot or dye vat, measuring cup, stirring spoon, strainer or colander, rubber bands, and alum. Wash and section the yarn, simmer the plant material into a dye bath, mordant the yarn with alum, dye it in the strained bath, then rinse and dry it.

What is the best mordant for yarn dyeing with Queen Anne's Lace?
Alum is a popular choice for mordanting yarn when using natural dyes like Queen Anne's Lace. Mix 1 part alum with 9 parts water in a large container, soak the pre-washed and dried yarn in it for about an hour, making sure it's fully submerged, then rinse well before dyeing.

How long should I simmer my yarn in Queen Anne's Lace dye?
After adding the pre-mordanted yarn to the strained Queen Anne's Lace dye bath, simmer it gently for about an hour, stirring occasionally for even colour distribution, then let it soak in the dyebath overnight for a more vibrant result.

Can I preserve some Queen Anne's Lace blossoms for later use?
Yes — you can set some blossoms aside for later during the plant harvesting process. Be sure to responsibly harvest Queen Anne's Lace from a safe location, since misidentification can lead you to pick a poisonous look-alike instead.

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