Natural dyes

[Singeblister]

I just came across this video site its like instructables , anyway found this one on natural dye and thought some of you might be interested in a look ,

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-make-your-own-natural-dye-with-etsy-labs-245914/

 

[addo]

Cheers, going to give it a go on my next tarp project.

 

[Toddy]

Hmmm.
Okay, firstly dyeing wool is easy, and even on it the onions will fade out to buttery yellow.
Turmeric is better but you need a heck of a lot for a cotton tarp.

Basically these three dyes are the safe in class ones for schoolkids.....and you don't need to boil the wool in the onion liquor, just add it when the liquid is ready and leave it sitting in a jar until the colour is as strong as you like........nicely ticks all the health and safety boxes and the kids get a result Works on nylon and on paper too.

If you are dyeing a tarp, might I suggest that you have a go with a substantive dye, one that needs no mordant, like madder roots, tea, coffee, if you really want a dye and not a stain.

Thanks for posting the link, interesting to see.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Singeblister]

I just bumbled across it and thought of you guys lol ,,,,, I think I remember hearing Rowan or Alder bark gives a bright red colour ?

 

[Roibeard]

Has anyone had any success with privet leaves?

I have tried dying linen with them and I got a nice pale yellow but it had nasty brownish spots as well that kinda ruined the garment .

 

[leon-1]

Has anyone tried using Green Walnut husks as a dye?

 

[Toddy]

They're supposed to give a good black........I get a sort of greeny dark brown............ah now, that's worth another go

cheers,
M

 

[Eric_Methven]

They're supposed to give a good black........I get a sort of greeny dark brown............ah now, that's worth another go

cheers,
M

That walnut husk dye gives a good black if you cook it up in an iron pot and throw in a few crushed iron tablets from the chemist.

Eric

 

[Toddy]

It rots wool though if the iron is too strong probably why I got the colour I did.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[leon-1]

They're supposed to give a good black........I get a sort of greeny dark brown............ah now, that's worth another go

cheers,
M

Thanks Mary, we found some the other week and Lou's hands ended up quite happily stained from the breaking open of the husks.

That walnut husk dye gives a good black if you cook it up in an iron pot and throw in a few crushed iron tablets from the chemist.

Eric

Thanks Eric, that's good to know.

Another question is does it need a mordant of any kind?

 

[Toddy]

Depends on what colour you want. If you use Iron you'll get black, if you don't you'll get a muddy colour. If you use copper you'll achieve more of a greeny brown............well, I do on my soft water.

Try a bit and see, technically the answer is no, but..........

cheers,
M