Handwoven Hemp-Cotton Towel Irregulars

Handwoven Hemp-Cotton Towel Irregulars

Sold individually. Towel sizes range from 14 to 18 inches wide and 20-24 inches (35.5 to 56 cm wide and 46 to 61 cm) long. We aren’t able to choose specific sizes or include or avoid certain types of marks. We’ve received a shipment of vintage handwoven hemp-cotton towel irregulars that have minor stains, shadings and marks. The fabric is unused but acquired blemishes due to its age. Nearly all the irregulars are stains and discolorations. The fabric is perfect for overdyeing, stitching, eco printing, bundle dyeing and surface design. Please refer to the images in the product gallery to … Read more

Cutch extract

Cutch Extract

Cutch (Acacia catechu) is the source of the rich reddish brown color seen in Indian textiles. It is both a dyestuff and tanning agent. It has been used in India since ancient times. To make cutch extract, cutch wood is soaked in hot water until the liquid becomes syrupy. It is then cooled, pressed and cut into cubes and dried. After that, it is ground into powder for dyeing. Cutch extract is sweet smelling in the dye bath and yields rich red browns with long cooking times. Cutch with an alum mordant will be golden yellow brown and requires a … Read more

Marigold Mix

Marigold Mix

We are especially pleased at how well marigold mix dyes cellulose fibers. So it’s a great way to create that sunny yellow on cotton and linen. (Kamala extract  works best with animal fibers and silk.) For details on how to use marigold mix, please see our page on natural dye extracts. Marigolds are native to Central America but are used as temple flowers in India and used lavishly during the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) when Mexican families celebrate their departed loved ones. Elaborate altars and memorials are festooned with flowers, special sweets and remembrances of family … Read more

Aquarelle Liquid Indigo - Saxon Blue

Aquarelle Liquid Indigo – Saxon Blue

The legendary Aquarelle Liquid Indigo – Saxon Blue is now available to natural dyers. First created in Germany in the 1740s, it is made from natural indigo converted with a strong acid to mimic an acid-type dye. It is not a vat dye and you do not use it like vatted indigo. It is an easy and marvelous color for wool fibers. Saxon blue is greener than traditional vatted indigo. In addition, it is a great base for teal, aqua, cornflower, periwinkle, lilac and medium value purple. To use, simply measure out the amount of liquid indigo and add to … Read more

unused ph strips on a white ceramic dish

pH Indicator Strips

We use pH Indicator Strips to measure the pH of an indigo vat. In other words, they help us determine if we need more acidity or alkalinity to balance the vat. We also use pH strip paper with other dyes to measure the pH range of the dye bath. These are extremely useful tools to quickly check your indigo vat or to determine the pH levels of your water supply. Natural dyes colors may be shifted by adjusting the pH of the dye bath. Therefore, our pH strips come in handy when deciding on increasing or decreasing pH. (35 pH indicator … Read more

Recording: Foundation Course in Natural Dyes With Kathy Hattori

Recording: Foundation Course in Natural Dyes with Kathy Hattori Download link is added to your Botanical Colors account dashboard upon purchase.  Please check under Downloads on your dashboard for access. If any questions, please email [email protected] We invite you to join us for one of our most exciting classes: A Foundation Course in Natural Dyes. One of the greatest pleasures in exploring natural dyes are the endless possibilities of creating color with plants and flowers. If you’ve been bitten by the natural dye bug, natural dyes will just become a lifetime of learning for you. But first, you need a … Read more