ntdy:natural_dyes

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ntdy:natural_dyes [2025/12/16 12:16] – Dave Darbyntdy:natural_dyes [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Natural dyes+This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. 
 +====== Natural dyes ======
  
  
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-## What are natural dyes?+===== What are natural dyes? =====
  
 Natural dyes are dyes made from naturally-occurring materials - overwhelmingly from plants, but also from minerals, insects and even shellfish. Dyes are soluble and they change the colour of the material they come into contact with, whereas pigments are non-soluble, requiring a binder to hold the colour on the surface of a material. Natural dyes are dyes made from naturally-occurring materials - overwhelmingly from plants, but also from minerals, insects and even shellfish. Dyes are soluble and they change the colour of the material they come into contact with, whereas pigments are non-soluble, requiring a binder to hold the colour on the surface of a material.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Samples of plant-dyed colours.+_Samples of plant-dyed colours._
  
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 <caption> <caption>
-The chemistry of natural dyes, produced by the American Chemical Society.+_The chemistry of natural dyes, produced by the American Chemical Society._
  
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 <caption> <caption>
-Weld growing on a river bank.+_Weld growing on a river bank._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Dyeing with coreopsis.+_Dyeing with coreopsis._
  
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-## What are the benefits of natural dyes?+===== What are the benefits of natural dyes? =====
  
 Natural dyes can provide colour from local, natural, organic materials. The cheapest and most environmentally-friendly way of dyeing is by growing or collecting local, native dye plants and dyeing fabrics yourself. It's very exciting to see colours appearing in items you've made yourself, from plants you've grown yourself. Natural dyes can provide colour from local, natural, organic materials. The cheapest and most environmentally-friendly way of dyeing is by growing or collecting local, native dye plants and dyeing fabrics yourself. It's very exciting to see colours appearing in items you've made yourself, from plants you've grown yourself.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Coreopsis-dyed wool.+_Coreopsis-dyed wool._
  
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 <caption> <caption>
-Using an alum mordant.+_Using an alum mordant._
  
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-Indigo-dyed sheet.+_Indigo-dyed sheet._
  
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 You can find various natural dye suppliers online, but it's much cheaper to [grow](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/grow-your-own-woad) and make them yourself. A course might be a good idea. You'll need scales, a stove, some big pots and a recipe book, unless you just want to experiment and see what happens. Simmer with a mordant first, then in the dye pot until you have the colour you want. If the colour isn't strong enough, add more dye material. You can find various natural dye suppliers online, but it's much cheaper to [grow](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/posts/grow-your-own-woad) and make them yourself. A course might be a good idea. You'll need scales, a stove, some big pots and a recipe book, unless you just want to experiment and see what happens. Simmer with a mordant first, then in the dye pot until you have the colour you want. If the colour isn't strong enough, add more dye material.
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-Peg loom mats made with plant-dyed wool.+_Peg loom mats made with plant-dyed wool._
  
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-Drying weld.+_Drying weld._
  
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 You can dye plant (i.e. not woollen) fabrics with rust. Leave the cloth in a rusty bath for 30 mintues, then quickly dip it into a bath of water mixed with a small amount of caustic soda or tannic acid (wear gloves when using caustic soda) to set it. You can make your own tannic acid bath by soaking oak bark, leaves or galls. With a tannic acid bath, you can achieve a deep brown-charcoal colour. You can dye plant (i.e. not woollen) fabrics with rust. Leave the cloth in a rusty bath for 30 mintues, then quickly dip it into a bath of water mixed with a small amount of caustic soda or tannic acid (wear gloves when using caustic soda) to set it. You can make your own tannic acid bath by soaking oak bark, leaves or galls. With a tannic acid bath, you can achieve a deep brown-charcoal colour.
  
-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/crafts). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [International Mushroom Dye Institute](http://www.sonic.net/dbeebee/IMDI.htm) - [International Mushroom Dye Institute](http://www.sonic.net/dbeebee/IMDI.htm)
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 - [Wild Colours](https://www.wildcolours.co.uk/) - info on growing and using natural - [Wild Colours](https://www.wildcolours.co.uk/) - info on growing and using natural
 dyes, inc. madder, weld & indigo dyes, inc. madder, weld & indigo
-- [All About Woad](https://www.woad.org.uk/) +- [All About Woad](https://www.woad.org.uk/)
 - [Dyeing for a Change](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/dyeing_for_a_change.pdf) - current conventions and new futures in the textile colour industry - [Dyeing for a Change](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/dyeing_for_a_change.pdf) - current conventions and new futures in the textile colour industry
 - [OEcotextiles](https://oecotextiles.blog/) - looking into the textile industry, and the differences in toxicity between natural and synthetic products - [OEcotextiles](https://oecotextiles.blog/) - looking into the textile industry, and the differences in toxicity between natural and synthetic products
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-## Specialists+===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[knit:knitting|Knitting & crochet]] 
 +- [[spin:Spinning]] 
 +- [[felt:Felt making]] 
 +- [[craf:Craft| Craft production]] 
 +- [[licl:clothes|Low-impact clothes]] 
 +- [[sewi:Sewing]] 
 +- [[pltf:Plant fibres]] 
 +- [[weav:Weaving]] 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • ntdy/natural_dyes.1765887383.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/16 12:16
  • by Dave Darby