Black Knight Scabiosa (Pincushion) 
Scabiosa atropurpurea
Annual
DYE: teal, blue, green
 
GROW: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting outside in full sun or with shade cloth. Spacing 6” apart, keep ground moist. Initially they adapt to transplanting slowly, but then shoots up to 24-36” tall and continually produces blooms until frost.
 
HARVEST: Harvest 11/2 - 2” blooms frequently at their peak, dry out of direct sunlight and store in open paper bags. 
 
EXTRACT DYE: The blue tones in Black Knight Scabiosa are from the anthocyanin pigments and are moderately washfast, but produce amazing colors nonetheless. Place the dyestuff in the dye pot and slowly bring to just below a simmer, hold for 30 minutes then let cool. Strain out the dyestuff, squeezing as much color out of the plants as you can, then compost the plant material.