Natural Dyes, Natural Dye Extracts & Tannins

We suggest you experiment with the dyes and tannins and keep careful notes on how you arrived at the finished result. A great way to do this is to start with the Fibrecrafts Natural Dye Kit, which includes a selection of natural dyes and mordants to get you started. The kit includes instructions on how to achieve the best colours from your natural dyes, and further information about natural dyeing can be found in our Blog & FAQs.

The quantity of natural dye required will vary depending on the dyestuff used, the method employed to extract the colour, the quality of the water and the type of fibre being dyed. As a general guide, 500g of dry fibre or fabric will require approximately 250g of dried madder to produce a medium red, whilst just 30g of cochineal will be required for the same quantity of material. Increasing the amount of dyestuff generally produces deeper, more intense shades. We recommend experimentation and, if you wish to repeat colour results, careful note-keeping of the methods used.

Most natural fibres can be dyed using natural dyes. Some natural dyes will bond to fibres without additional treatment, but most require a mordant to help improve colour fastness and wash-fastness. Mordants can also influence the final colour produced. Wool and silk are commonly mordanted with alum, while cellulose fibres such as cotton and linen can be prepared using Aluminium Lactate. Cellulose fibres can also be prepared for natural dyeing by first soaking them in a tannin solution before mordanting with alum. This age-old technique can sometimes affect the final colour of the natural dye through the colour absorbed during the tannin soak; a side-effect that may be desirable. See here for a choice of mordants.

Further reading about Natural Dyes and Natural Dyeing >

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are generally not available for untreated plant-derived natural dyes unless stated on the individual product page.

Safety data sheets provide information on chemical products and are intended to help users to make a risk assessment when handling those chemicals. They describe the hazards of the chemical present, and give information on handling as well as storage and emergency measures in case of accident.

Although most plant-derived dyes are considered low hazard when handled appropriately, all dye materials should be treated with sensible care. Avoid inhaling fine powders, wear appropriate protective equipment where necessary, and use dedicated dyeing utensils (see more on the safe handling of dyes).

Data sheets are provided for the chemical products we sell and are found here.