This week: We posted about cream of tartar last week and you had questions…
natural dyeing
Differences in Logwood: Questions for FEEDBACK FRIDAY
This week: What’s the difference between our logwood extracts and how can you piece together an indigo vat in Peru without all the tools at your fingertips? (This answer is cool.)
5 Tips to Make Natural Dyeing (More) Environmentally Friendly
Using natural dyes is certainly a lot more friendly than using something like Rit but there are ways you can be a lot more efficient in how you use them. Here are some tips we’ve put together for you.
First Time Indigo Grower Question for FEEDBACK FRIDAY
Each week, we are emailed with questions from our natural dye community asking simple and complex questions that we thought might be worth sharing. Here are a handful from this week answered by natural dyer in chief, Kathy Hattori, Founder of Botanical Colors: I am really new to dyeing–is the material to be dyed mordanted first, then dyed? When I developed film/printed photos, you always “fixed” at the end to keep it from continuing to develop. Please help; I’m trying to understand and visualize the process. Many thanks! The procedure that I prefer to use is: Scour or clean the … Read more
Purple from Tannin and Iron for FEEDBACK FRIDAY
Each week, we are emailed with questions from our natural dye community asking simple and complex questions that we thought might be worth sharing. Here are a handful from this week answered by natural dyer in chief, Kathy Hattori, Founder of Botanical Colors: I just started natural dyeing and am wondering if you could suggest any books that might best guide me as a beginner? Check out this list! I just tried to dye some upcycled white t-shirts for an Alabama Chanin project and had a major failure. I used tannin extract and iron powder. I was going for charcoal … Read more
What is the Best Dyepot for FEEDBACK FRIDAY
Each week, we are emailed with questions from our natural dye community asking simple and complex questions that we thought might be worth sharing. Here are a handful from this week answered by natural dyer in chief, Kathy Hattori, Founder of Botanical Colors: What are the best gloves for natural dyeing? I like to use the Ansell brand of gloves as they have a longer cuff version perfect for indigo vats and several insulated styles that are good for hot dye baths. I’m trying to carefully rotate my fibers so I don’t get hot spots. How do I keep from … Read more
Getting Good Gray Colors for FEEDBACK FRIDAY
Each week, we are emailed with questions from our natural dye community asking simple and complex questions that we thought might be worth sharing. Here are a handful from this week answered by natural dyer in chief, Kathy Hattori, Founder of Botanical Colors: Do you have any advice on how to get a consistent grey? I am answering this in two parts. One, how to get a consistent, non-blotchy color and two, how to get the same color in multiple dye baths. Here’s the answer to the first question. Most gray recipes are a combination of a tannin dye with … Read more
An Interview With Textile and Shibori Guru Joan Morris
Internationally acclaimed textile and shibori guru Joan Morris last visited us in 2015 and we are pleased to welcome her back to teach with Botanical Colors this July. Shaped-resist dyeing is an elemental textile art that is thousands of years old. In Japan it’s known as shibori, but it has been made worldwide for almost as long as dyes have been applied to textiles. Joan’s history with natural dyeing and textiles is extensive so we are lucky to catch her for an interview. Here’s what she had to say about the history of shibori, popular techniques and the best advice … Read more