I. Why dye?
A. Beauty/ self-expression
B. Signify rank, status, wealth
II. Brief history of dyes
A. First humans + berries =
first dyes
B. Different plants = different
colors
C. Middle Ages & Renaissance
- valuable commodities, easy to transport
D. Development of synthetic
dyes
III. Ingredients
A. Fiber -- natural fibers are
best: wool, cotton, silk, ramie, linen...
B. Plant (or insect) matter
C. Mordant-- helps fibers "grab"
and keep dye-- often toxic metals
1. iron- makes colors darker
2. alum, chrome, tin- brightens or changes color shade
3. copper (sulfate)- greener
4. urea- human urine is an easily accessible mordant!
IV. Process-- record all your steps
A. Wash fiber and soak- to remove
oil, dirt, lanolin, starch
B. Gather plant- approx. 1 lb.
per 1 lb. of fiber, be responsible
C. Mordant- may be done before
or after dyeing, soak or simmer
D. Dyebath- chop up plant, then
boil, simmer, or ferment
E. Additives-- salt, vinegar,
ammonia...
F. Rinse and dry
V. Which plants to use
A. Results can be unpredictable,
varying with many factors
B. COLORS:
1. Red-- madder,
cochineal
2. Orange/
Gold/ Yellow-- onion skins, goldenrod, turmeric, safflower, saffron, henna
3. Green--
sedges, or mix yellow and blue
4. Blue--
logwood, woad, indigo
5. Purple--
some lichens, berries
6. Brown/
Black-- coffee, tea, pecan hulls, iron mordant
C. Sources: nature, garden,
craft stores, dyeing supply-houses, grocery store