Page 14 – Botanical Colors

Iron (ferrous sulfate)

We use iron (ferrous sulfate) as a color changer, darkening or “saddening” natural dyes on protein or cellulose fibers. It also increases lightfastness and acts as a mineral mordant for dark shades. The famous black dye recipes from the 17th and 18th century use generous amounts of iron and tannin. Iron reacts with the tannin in many dyestuffs creating colors ranging from chartreuse green to black, depending on the dye it is combined with. Our iron powder is light green and food grade. Use it either during mordanting or in a post-dye bath. Too much iron can harshen the hand … Read more

Cream of Tartar

Cream of Tartar (COT) is a white powder often used in baking to help stabilize meringue. It is a byproduct from the sediment left behind in winemaking – another use for a waste product! In natural dyeing, we use cream of tartar to acidify the dye bath to act as a color changer. It’s also used in mordanting to soften wool fibers. As well, I’ve read that it helps aluminum sulfate bind more strongly to the fibers. Depending on the dye, it will shift cochineal, madder and lac to brighter, redder colors. With madder, it will shift the hue to … Read more

white powder on a round off-white ceramic tray

Aluminum Potassium Sulfate

Aluminum Potassium Sulfate is back in stock this week – thank you for your patience! Highly prized worldwide since antiquity, aluminum potassium sulfate is the premier mordanting material for protein fibers such as silk and wool. Check out our instructions on using aluminum potassium sulfate for detailed information on preparing your fibers for natural dyeing. What does this humble mineral have in common with the most powerful family in Italy during the Renaissance? During the 12th century, ambitious nobles and merchants became rich on alum exports from the Aegean islands. In the mid-15th century, the expanding Turkish empire gained control … Read more

Lac Extract

Lac (Laccifer lacca) extract comes from a scale insect known from antiquity throughout India, Southeast Asia, Nepal and China. The deep red colorant is extracted from a hard resinous crude shellac before it can be successfully used as a dye. So the resin is known as shellac. It is used for lacquer and in addition as a protective covering for wood. Lac dye was used to color silk and dye leather and was mentioned as early as 250 AD. Lac extract is an affordable alternative to obtain pinks, purples and burgundy reds on protein fibers using an alum mordant. However, … Read more

Madder Extract

Madder (Rubia cordifolia) is one of the oldest and most frequently used traditional dyestuffs known to human kind. It has extensive history in Turkey, India and Iran. There, it is still being used for dyeing knotted and woven carpets. The secret for Turkey red, a deep rich red color, was guarded for centuries throughout Central Asia. In addition, it involved more than twenty steps to create this prized shade. Our madder extract will produce pale pink and peach shades all the way through a deep, wine-colored red. Madder extract dyes to its deepest colors with an alum mordant and the … Read more