Natural dyes can be made from flowers, roots, nuts, and leaves that we can easily wild-craft from our yards, grow in your garden, or find in the spice rack.
Whether you are spinning and dyeing your own wool, or just have a t-shirt you're just experimenting with...
Natural plant dyeing is a fun craft utilizing nature's bounty.
Supplies Fabric to dye Large pot Wooden spoon Sieve Measuring cup Rubber gloves Note: wear clothing you do not care about in the event that there are any spills.
Fixatives/Mordants/Preparing the fabric for dying ½ cup Salt to 8 cups cold water (for berries) 4 parts cold water to 1 part Vinegar ( for plant material) Lemon Juice Alum Urine It is important to soak the fabric in a fixative before putting it in the dye bath.
This will facilitate the dying process, making the fabric better retain the dye.
Different fixatives can alter the color of the plant dye, in the case of dandelion root adding alum to the fixative bath can change the dye from brown to magenta.
Adding a pinch of iron powder can dramatically darken colors.
Preparing the dye bath Measure one part plant material with two parts water, simmer and stir for one hour.
Strain the plant material with a metal screen or muslin fabric.
When plant material is strained, bring the dye back to a low simmer and add the fabric.
Simmer for one hour or until desired color is achieved.
Remember to stir occasionally during the process.
Finishing the process Remove the fabric with rubber gloves to prevent staining your hands.
Wring the fabric thoroughly and rinse until water runs clear, and hang up to air dry.
When washing the fabric, keep it separate from other articles as it can stain.
Using a gentle detergent such as dish soap or Castile soap is recommended to prevent whitening the fabric and removing the dye.
If you are ready to give to try dyeing fabric with natural plant dyes, the following is a non inclusive list of some easily obtainable plants to experiment with.
Orange Turmeric Brown Oak bark / Tea (tan) Dandelion (brown) Black walnut hulls (dark brown) Pink Rose and lavender + mint and lemon juice Dandelion root + alum = magenta (or any of the red dyes for a shorter steep time) Blue Elderberries Red - soaked longer, can be purple Beets / Beet Powder Rose hips Hibiscus Saint John's Wort (soaked in alcohol first) Purple Sunflower seeds Green Peppermint Yarrow Nettles Yellow Red Clover Bay leaf Remember that there are hundreds of other plants to be used as dyes available in the wild.
Experiment and Have Fun!
Whether you are spinning and dyeing your own wool, or just have a t-shirt you're just experimenting with...
Natural plant dyeing is a fun craft utilizing nature's bounty.
Supplies Fabric to dye Large pot Wooden spoon Sieve Measuring cup Rubber gloves Note: wear clothing you do not care about in the event that there are any spills.
Fixatives/Mordants/Preparing the fabric for dying ½ cup Salt to 8 cups cold water (for berries) 4 parts cold water to 1 part Vinegar ( for plant material) Lemon Juice Alum Urine It is important to soak the fabric in a fixative before putting it in the dye bath.
This will facilitate the dying process, making the fabric better retain the dye.
Different fixatives can alter the color of the plant dye, in the case of dandelion root adding alum to the fixative bath can change the dye from brown to magenta.
Adding a pinch of iron powder can dramatically darken colors.
Preparing the dye bath Measure one part plant material with two parts water, simmer and stir for one hour.
Strain the plant material with a metal screen or muslin fabric.
When plant material is strained, bring the dye back to a low simmer and add the fabric.
Simmer for one hour or until desired color is achieved.
Remember to stir occasionally during the process.
Finishing the process Remove the fabric with rubber gloves to prevent staining your hands.
Wring the fabric thoroughly and rinse until water runs clear, and hang up to air dry.
When washing the fabric, keep it separate from other articles as it can stain.
Using a gentle detergent such as dish soap or Castile soap is recommended to prevent whitening the fabric and removing the dye.
If you are ready to give to try dyeing fabric with natural plant dyes, the following is a non inclusive list of some easily obtainable plants to experiment with.
Orange Turmeric Brown Oak bark / Tea (tan) Dandelion (brown) Black walnut hulls (dark brown) Pink Rose and lavender + mint and lemon juice Dandelion root + alum = magenta (or any of the red dyes for a shorter steep time) Blue Elderberries Red - soaked longer, can be purple Beets / Beet Powder Rose hips Hibiscus Saint John's Wort (soaked in alcohol first) Purple Sunflower seeds Green Peppermint Yarrow Nettles Yellow Red Clover Bay leaf Remember that there are hundreds of other plants to be used as dyes available in the wild.
Experiment and Have Fun!
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