This talk will be an introduction to mushroom dyeing. First I will go over basic procedure including preparation and mordanting of the wool creation of the dye bath and some variables that can affect the color like pH and the source of the water used. The second part will focus on the species of wild mushrooms that I have found to have the most interesting pigments that can be easily taken up by the wool from a hot water bath. Lastly I will talk about the most recent International Fungi and Fibre Symposiums that I have attended where mushroom dyers and crafters get together about every 2 years to share their experiments and learn from each other.

Susan Hopkins learned to identify fungi as a member of the New Jersey Mycological Association for the last 42 years. She has attended most of the North Eastern Mycological Forays and several North American Mycological Forays which in August of 2019 was held at Paul Smiths College NY. After attending the 1993 International Fungi-Fibre Symposium in Scotland she became a “dyer” learning the use of various species of wild fungi to dye wool. She has attended 13 of the International Fungi and Fibre Symposiums over the years traveling to all the Scandinavia countries and also Spain Estonia and Australia. Identification is her main focus with a special interest in all of the tooth fungi including the genus Hydnellum Phellodon and Sarcodon. Susan now lives in the Adirondack mountains of NY learning the local fungi flora and continues to do many lectures walks and demonstrations on fungi and mushroom dyeing. The lecture took place Friday March 18 2022 at 7pm