Aquarelle Madder Liquid

Description

Historically, madder is one of the oldest natural dyes. People grew madder since 1500 BC in Central Asia and the Middle East. The red color comes from the root of the plant. The plants are usually harvested after 2 to 3 years growth.

Aquarelle madder liquid is an easy to use liquid natural dye that creates a rich clear red on natural fibers. 50 grams of liquid dye will dye approximately 500 grams (1.1 lbs) of fiber a red shade. For details on how to dye with liquid madder, please visit our page on liquid dyes.

Each Aquarelle liquid natural dye is pre-extracted from a leaf, root, bark or other natural source. They combine easily and produce beautiful shades. Thicken with print paste thickener. After that, use for printing, painting and other surface design applications.

Liquid Dye Color Combinations

• Saxon Blue and madder will make a yellow-brown
• Madder with a pinch of Cream of Tartar will make a cherry red
• Madder with a pinch of soda ash will make a bright purple

From our Feedback Friday series:

I’m hoping to dye some habotai silk a “Holiday Red” or traditional Christmas red. I bought your Aquarelle Liquid Madder and was wondering if you had any tips to get the color correct. The label says it will yield a cherry red when a pinch of calcium carbonate is added. I’ve read that it will also make the red in Persian rugs. If I want a true red for the holidays, what do you recommend?

The way to a good red is:
-Protein fiber (silk or wool)
–Mordant with alum @15-20% and possibly a very small amount of cream of tartar (like 1%) if using wool
-10-20% madder liquid wof and a little calcium carbonate
-If the color remains a little too “raspberry,” add a small amount (0.5 to 1%) cream of tartar to the dye bath to make it redder.

I’ve found that the liquid creates a very clear red with little of the orange or yellow undertone of the powdered extract, but it is a slightly lighter shade. You may need to increase the dye to 20-25% for a richer shade, especially on silk fabrics.

Cotton fibers tend to go rather brick or terracotta colored, but it is possible that using aluminum acetate mordant with a post-bath of calcium carbonate will yield a strong red.

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Frequently Asked Liquid Dye Questions