I began this writing when the green persimmons began to fall.
Working with the hard green Persimmon from diospyros virginiana necessitates that I must find ways to handle my dyes around shifting weather. I do not have endless days of sunshine. There have been sporadic night rains, multiple days of rolling thunder storms and high humidity here leaving dew upon the grasses until mid day. I live in the woods.
I became intrigued with the idea of taking hard green persimmons and using them as a substantive dye known as Kakishibu that can be used fresh or fermented for a few years before using. I tell how I came to experiment with green persimmons in Quilters Comfort Astringent Persimmon Dye, a 2023 blog post. In my search, I came across Loop of the Loom and Ana Lisa Hedstrom on Youtube. Thus far, I have primarily worked with my own hard green persimmons.
It is from Korean writings and videos that I gathered most of my information about fresh dyeing with green astringent persimmons. It is not necessary to mordant for persimmon astringent to dye. I have seen a few Korean dye artist who included the use of alum in their process. Do your own test to see what works for you. Next year, I think that I will see how things work out when processed with a juicer.
After a year of washing, my persimmon dyed tee shirts have deepened into brown tones such as this.
I am currently dyeing bamboo rayon, cotton tee shirts and yardage, silk and socks. My dye bath is prepared from just covering with set out water (water left out to allow chlorine to evaporate) and whatever hard green persimmons that have dropped down from three trees along my driveway. If you can collect it, rain water is reputed best for your natural dyes.
Persimmon tees with
cotton fabric on the line before the final wash.
Last fall was an unexpected event. My persimmon trees were reluctant to release fruits from the trees in autumn due to the high temperature, and no frost in sight. When fruits dis come down, they were in the process of dehydrating.
This spring the green persimmons fruit droppings were much smaller than I recall previous seasons green persimmon droppings being. The small hard green fruits when first down seemed a littler smaller and the pigment that I am extracting is more a light persimmon color, I recall last years color being more of a pale green. The fresh green dye develops into shades of persimmon color as when they are ripe. The more times you dip into the dye, the deeper the color becomes. I allow my items to mostly dry between dips into the dye bath. When the weather is uncooperative, I refrigerate my persimmon dye to prevent it from beginning to ferment.
As I am experimenting with green persimmon shibori, and I am getting some small successes. Shibori stitching and other process craft beautiful designs into the fabric. I have greater shibori success so far when using the persimmon leaf dye. I have been adventuring through persimmon leaf dye since leaf fall of 2023. I do not know if the properties attributed to green astringent persimmons are also available from the leaf. The leaf does not create a hardened surface like green persimmon dye. I view the colors I get as shades of persimmony orange. I appreciate the soft hand that remains when dyeing silk handkerchiefs and cotton velvet fabric.
Research has shown beneficial properties, including antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties are imparted from astringent green persimmons and that they adhere to the fibers offering some of these benefits and protections to the wearer! I had a delivery driver tester for my bamboo socks and the wearer said only glowing things about comfort, wicking, no smelly feet and that these socks became their favorite. The ancient Asian Indian practice known as Ayurvestra, an aspect of Ayurvedic Medicine is the practice of healing dyes. Based on information available, persimmon falls into this category.
I am my finding my way with the small astringent persimmon found in the Indiana Midwest. Another of natures gifts to be appreciated. Beautiful persimmon colors from a sustainable and regenerative dye that brings no harm to the human body, the earths body or bodies of water.
Links to some research can be found in my previous post.
Key words
Morning Glory,
Persimmon Astringent, Kakishibu, Indiana astringent persimmons, green
persimmon, botanical dye, natural dye, healing dye, Ayurvestra,
substantive dye, Patricia C. Coleman
