Natural Dyeing Techniques
 If
you want to be able to reproduce the exact
same color, hue, or shading with
every batch of dye - natural fiber dyeing
techniques are not for you.
But if you want to
experience some gorgeous variations of
color and hues,
spend time in the great outdoors, and revel
in an ancient craft technique, this is
a wonderful way to accomplish it.
A terrific
source for natural dyes can be found right
in your own backyard - and front yard too.
Plants, roots, flowers, stems, nuts,
and petals are just a few of the common
natural ways to get many colors and hues.
Yellow, orange, blue, red, green, brown
and grey - plus all variations inbetween
- are available... all you have to do
is play
 Though
natural dyeing takes considerably more
time and effort, it's well worth the additional
work.
We've achieved some incredible one-of-a-kind
colors this way. Remind
me to tell you about the results I got
from 2 year old, dry sawdust.
Here's a terrific resource
- Imperial-Purple.
These wonderful folks produce books and
recipes on historial dyeing. You're going
to love them.
Natural
Dyeing | Mordants | Plants
and Color | Preparation | Dyeing
Recipes
|
Did
You Know?
Madder is a excellent dye
because it contains natural mordanting
agents.
During the Middle Ages,
people who made and dyed hats - hatters
- frequently used heavy metals in their
dye baths as mordants.
As they did not
wear protective gloves, some hatters absorbed
toxic levels of heavy metals causing them
to become mentally deranged or "Mad
as a Hatter".
|
