Fibrecrafts Natural Dyes

FIBRECRAFTS natural dyes can be used in all natural dyeing techniques and colours with vary depending on the mordant or method used. We suggest you experiment with the dyes and keep notes on how you arrived at the finished result

Alderbuckthorn Bark

The Alderbuckthorn is a small tree or bush native to Britain. Shades of yellow to brown can be achieved from the bark. See below for Persian Berries

Alkanet

Used as a natural dye, Alkanet root (also known as Alkanna tinctoria or Dyer's Bugloss) dyes fibres, yarns & fabrics to shades of grey - purple.

Annatto

Annatto seeds come from achiote trees from the Americas. The powdered seeds can achieve shades of spicy orange.

Birch Bark

This dyestuff is capable of dyeing fibres to various shades of pink

Bloodroot

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a woodland plant which is used for both dyeing and medicinal purposes. When used as a natural dye it colours fibres, yarns & fabrics to shades of red.

Brazilwood

Brazilwood chips come from a tropical pulse tree which is commonly used for cabinet making violin bows. It can dye fibres shades of red.

Chamomile

This dried herb has a multitude of uses and can dye fibres to shades of yellow through to green.

Cochineal

Carmine (also called Crimson Lake) is derived from carminic acid which can be extracted from dried cochineal. Boil the cochineal in water and treat the clear solution with either alum, cream of tartar, tin to precipitate. This natural dye colours fibres to shades of red.

Cutch

Cutch powder is derived from Mangrove tree bark and contains tannin. Used as a natural dye, it colours fibres, yarns & fabrics to shades of orange - brown.

Dyers Green Weed

This mixture of dried flowers and leaves will achieve shades of yellow when used as a natural dye.

Elderberries

Extract the natural dye from dried elderberry (if you can bear not to make it into wine!) and colour your fibres to shades of grey-purple.

Fustic Chips

These chips from the Fustic Tree (Chlorophora tinctoria), which is part of the Mulberry family, can be used to dye fibres, yarns & fabrics shades of yellow

Gall Nuts (powdered)

Gall nut powder contains tannin extracted from oak apples or galls and achieves shades of cream-grey - black.

Golden Rod

The dried leaves and flowers of the golden rod are used to create colours from yellow through to green.

Heather Flowers

This versatile pinky mauve flowered plant offers surprising shades of yellow.

Henna

Henna powder is from a flowering plant found in Africa, southern Asia and northern Australasia. It can be used as a temporary dye for both skin and hair but is also useful as a natural dye for colouring textiles to shades of brown.

Ivy Leaves

These dried ivy leaves will dyes fibres, yarns & fabrics to shades of green when used as a natural dye.

Logwood Chips

This natural dye colours textiles to shades of purple-grey/black. It comes from the Logwood Tree (Haematoxylum campechianum) from Central America and was much sought after in the 17th century.

Logwood Powder

Achieve shades of purple-grey/black with this powdered logwood.

Madder (powdered)

The roots of Madder (Rubia tinctoria) produce a colour range from red to purple depending on the method or mordant used. A historical dye which was used widely in Europe to dye cotton.

Madder (chopped)

Here's a recipe we haven't yet tried but which may be of interest to the adventurous dyer (the page will open in a separate window).

Stone-ground Iranian Madder Root

This superb quality natural dye is imported directly from Iran.

Marigold (whole)

Whole dried Marigold flower heads which when used as a natural dye will colour fibres, yarns & fabrics shades of pale yellow - green.

Oak Bark

The bark from the oak tree produces tannin which was traditionally used for tanning leather. It can be used as a natural dye to colour fibres, yarns & fabrics shades of beige/tan-grey.

Persian Berries

Berries from the Alderbuckthorn tree to use as natural dye on fibres, yarns & fabrics, creating shades of yellow. Please note that results will vary depending on method/mordant used.

Poplar Buds

These buds from the Poplar tree dye fibres, yarns & fabrics shades of yellow - brown.

St Johns Wort

St John's Wort is a herb that has been in use since ancient times as a remedy for anxiety and depression. The flowers also yield a yellow (through to brown) colour when used as a natural dye.

Safflower

The safflower is generally used for the production of vegetable oil but was traditionally used for colouring and flavouring. When used as a natural dye, the dried flowers produce shades of red - yellow.

Sanderswood

The red wood chips from the Sanderswood tree produce shades of brown when used to dye textiles.

Sticklac

Sticklac is a resin secreted by the insect Laccider lacca. It contains a percentage of Lac dye which originates in the insect and can be extracted from the sticklac to colour textiles to shades of red. The commonly used Shellac preservative is also a product of sticklac.

Tansy

Dyestuff from the Tansy flower which dyes fibres, yarns & fabrics to shades of yellow - green when used as a natural dye.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice made from grinding the roots of the Curcuma longa plant. It is also highly effective as a natural dye and will colour most fibres, yarns & fabrics (including synthetics) to shades of vibrant yellow.

Walnut Husks

The outer husks of the walnut can be used to colour fibres, yarns & fabrics to shades of pale brown when used as a natural dye.

Walnut Leaves

These dried leaves will colour fibres, yarns & fabrics to shades of yellow - brown when used as a natural dye.

Weld

Weld (also known as Dyer's Rocket and Dyer's Mignonette) is a good source of yellow-green dye.