How do you know if a plant might make a good dye? Rub it between your fingers and see if it stains. If it does give it a try!
To help the dye “bite” the yarn or fabric you need to use a mordant. Pickling alum is one I like to use; easy to find and non-toxic. Different mordants will give various shades so try a few!
Use the least processed, non-machine washable wool you can find. If it’s been treated it won’t take dye well.
Believe it or not this is grey from bright red day lillies!
Oregon Grape – I’ve just tried the berries but I’ve read the leaves and roots can be used for a yellow dye.
Purple from Oregon Grape with alum mordant.
Oregon Grape
Deep yellow from mature dock seeds.
Pale green from fennel
Walnut
I used some alum but due to the natural tannin in the walnuts a mordant isn’t needed. The color is fairly long lasting and it’s a good idea to wear gloves!
Walnut stewing
Mulberry from Richland, WA.
Here’s wool dyed with mulberry. The different colors result from longer and shorter times in the dye bath.
Lady’s Bedstraw
Here’s the color when the roots are used.
Here’s the color produced from using the flowers with an alum mordant.
Tansy makes a nice yellow and it’s a noxious weed so no guilt in picking it!
Bracken fern
Tansy in the middle and Bracken fern on each side.
Bracken in a cast iron pot.
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