Henna has been used to dye natural fibers for weaving and rugs for a long, long time. Historically parallel with henna on the body one can easily imagine. Authentic Persian and Iranian rugs (among others) have fibers dyed with plants and insects.

As a knitter and advocate of SLOW, I have respect for the craft and the effort that goes into well-made 'things'. That in the making we can have a spiritual, meditative process and an emotional connection to the people you use the end product is as important to me as the actual thing (it's one reason all the products for sale in our boutique are hand made, hand poured and hand crafted).

If I am doing nothing. I like to be doing nothing with purpose. That’s what leisure means.

THE DYING:

Out of curiosity for the 'experiment' of dying the yarn, no effort was made to control the color of the yarn. Using what I know about natural dyes, and henna stains on the skin, I did a simple dye process.The yarn was simply treated, dyed and washed to be ready for use. Please launder your item separately the first time. A couple of years ago I tried one hank and left it sitting to test for color-fastness, and there was not noticeable change in that time.

Homage to a Persian rug and personal artifact, by poet Peter Balakian
Persian and Iranian rugs with natural dyed fibers, fine art: Josephine Kier

I'm a huge fan of process and the beauty imbued in the making of something. Slowing down, creating with intention and the pleasure of the progress is magic to me. In the writing of this I am reminded of a book with some popularity a few years ago, The Knitting Sutra: Craft as a Spiritual Practice by Susan Gordan Lydon. In the making o

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