Natural Dyeing

Long ago people learned to spin, weave, and make cloth. As a component of that process, they used natural dyes to give variety. Natural dyeing can be unpredictable, but that can be part of the fun. Dyers learn to experiment and can have unexpected delightful results or disappointments, because there are many variables.

The type of fiber affects the resulting shade and color. Dyers use cotton, linen, jute, or even silk, but wool is most commonly used. After the fiber is scoured, or given special washings, a mordant must be applied to help fix the dye. The type of mordant used will also affect the color. Many native peoples used urine. Another early mordant was tannic acid from tea, hemlock, or oak balls. Some dye materials, like lichen, contain their own mordants. Copper or iron pots do also. Chemical mordants, such as alum, tin, copper, chrome, iron, or tannic acid may be purchased today.

Then comes the best part - the dyeing. Here's where enthusiasts love to experiment. But here's some samples of colors:

     Black walnut hulls - dark brown
     Eggplant peelings - silver blue
     Pickle juice - bright yellow
     Red cabbage - pastel bluish lavender
     Red onion husks - rust brown
     Sunflower seed shells - yellows or tans
     Yellow onion husks - yellows or golds
     Blackberries - dark purple, or dark green with soda added
     Blueberries - blues, grays, or lavenders
     Cranberry juice - pinkish beige

     Huckleberries - bright bluish pink
     Strawberries - dull beige
     Yellow chrysanthemums - yellowish greens
     Dandelions - pale yellow
     Grass - grass green
     Purple pansies - intense bluish green
     Goldenrod flowers - yellows
     Cedar roots (soaked) - purplish black
     Maple leaves - greenish yellow

     Wood ashes cooked in an iron pot with a bit of lye - warm black
     Mushrooms - pinks, maroons, greens, blues, browns, grays, golds
     Coffee - beige to brown
     Tea - grays or tans
     Burgundy wine - brownish burgundy
I've tried to give an overview of dyeing. If anyone is really interested there's many books on the subject. Learn the basics and them experiment. Not knowing exactly what shade and color you'll get is the exciting part.

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