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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: fi on April 27, 2010, 09:49:16

Title: plants for dyes
Post by: fi on April 27, 2010, 09:49:16
have any of you grown plants for fabric/wool dye?
Title: Re: plants for dyes
Post by: Unwashed on April 27, 2010, 18:31:01
This is the web site (http://www.wildcolours.co.uk/) of the lady on Sqash's site who grows dyes for printing.
Title: Re: plants for dyes
Post by: PurpleHeather on April 27, 2010, 19:29:19
Not personally but I know people who have used things like onion and beetroot for adding colour to fabric as part of hobby-craft.

To be truthfull, whilst it is interesting as well as a learning curve, the commercial dyes on the market are so sophisticated that  it is simply  not necessary to revert to basics. Apart from anything else it make laundering an additional nightmare. Natural colours do tend to 'run' in the wash.
Title: Re: plants for dyes
Post by: Bugloss2009 on April 27, 2010, 19:46:47
nettles give yellow and green dyes (not on the list on that nice website I think)
Title: Re: plants for dyes
Post by: fi on April 28, 2010, 08:51:01
Thanks all, have checked the website and it was the indigo colour that i was after but woad seems the plant to go with. i have used the chemical dyes and they are very good but bit pricey and chemical based. want to have a play and experiment with dying some wool with a plant dye.  have any of you grown woad, i understand it is difficult to germinate.