These notes appear originally on the Yahoo Group ‘Natural Dyes’ and have been reproduced with the kind permission of the author, Dick Huset. “Three years ago after a trip up to the arctic where the big lichen ‘ears’ have been an emergency food source for eons, I experimented back at home to add new color […]
Category Archives: Dyes & Dyeing
03
Jun
Jun
These alternative indigo dye recipes are reproduced with the kind permission of Alison Daykin at Alison Yule Textiles. Find out more about indigo and how to set up a traditional indigo dye vat. Indigo Dye Vat using Yeast and Sugar Although indigo powder is blue, the indigo molecule does not produce its blue colour until […]
03
Jun
Jun
Here we include an Indigo Dye Recipe and a little about the history of this ancient dye. Indigo is probably the most widely used dyestuff of all time – indeed denim jean material is still coloured using indigo dye as it is extremely wash fast. It was used many centuries before the Christian era in the […]
02
Jun
Jun
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 […]
01
Jun
Jun
What are Deka L Dyes and How to Use Them Deka L dyes fall into the category of Direct Dyes. These dyes give quick colour results with a simple process. They are economical to use (compared to the more specialised synthetic dyes such as Procion MX and Acid dyes) and ideal for learning the basics […]
28
May
May
The cotton material for Batik work requires a good finish, needs to be reasonably pliable and be able to accept the resist in order to prevent dye penetration. The Bleached Cotton, the Javanese Primissima and the Javanese Prima all meet this requirement. We recommend both the Primissima and Prima material for more detailed Batik work […]
18
May
May
Silk dyes will produce more vibrant colour results than iron fix silk paints. The dyes penetrate the fibres and are locked within the fabric through the steaming process, ensuring greater wash and light fastness. The results of this process far outweigh any inconvenience as the silk remains supple while silk paints tend to leave a […]
18
May
May
Formosul or Formasol is the active component of Discharge Paste. Discharge Paste is used for removing areas of colour from dyed natural fabrics such as cotton, silk and viscose. Please note that some Procion MX fibre reactive dyes do not discharge and some give a simple colour change. It is therefore wise to test fabrics […]
15
May
May
What is a Mordant? The use of mordants for natural dyeing (“mordant” derived from the Latin word mordere, meaning “to bite”) has been a staple in textile production since ancient times, dating back thousands of years. A mordant links chemically with the fibre and creates attachment points which bond with the colourant from natural dyes […]
12
May
May
This colourful, tactile scarf has been crafted by Susan Litton. She first spun a small amount of each of the Fibrecrafts silk fibres and then microwave dyed the yarn samples with Acid dye. She knitted the yarn into a long, narrow scarf. Then attached tassels across both ends and at intervals along each side for […]