A simple celebration to welcome summer

By Corey

Here in the Pacific Northwest, our spring was unusually gloomy. This might have been tolerable had it not been for the awfully gloomy winter and utterly gloomy fall. We’ve been living in grey for a solid nine months.

To celebrate the arrival of summer (and to conjure the rainbow of color sunshine brings), my daughters, seven of their friends (and friends’ moms), and I had a silk dyeing party.

Here is what we used:

• Plain 100% silks in various sizes from Dharma Trading Company
• White vinegar
• Kool Aid in a variety of flavors

Here is how we did it:

1. Soak silks in hot water for 20-30 minutes
2. Fill large pots (non-aluminum or non-cast iron) about 3/4 full and heat to just under a boil
3. Add 1-3 cups of white vinegar and a few packets of Kool Aid (of the same color)
4. Stir until Kool Aid is dissolved
5. Remove 1-4 silks from hot water, squeeze out and stir into dye
6. Simmer for 20-45 minutes, until dye is absorbed into silks, stir often
7. Let cool a bit and remove (carefully) with tongs
8. Hang outside from clothesline or tree-limbs, let dry in the breeze
9. Use silks for dancing, dressing up, imagination play, wrapping gifts, or anything else your heart desires.

The event was such a hit with kids and moms alike that we’ve already committed to making this an annual end of spring tradition. However next year we’ll dump the Kool Aid and try beets, marigold, coffee and other of-the-Earth-dyes…

Happy, Happy SUMMER!