How to Make Mordants for Natural Dyes

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Make beautiful natural dyes from plants with the help of “Harvesting Color.”
Make beautiful natural dyes from plants with the help of “Harvesting Color.”
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Mordanted fibers can be left to sit for an indefinite period of time before they enter the dye vat.
Mordanted fibers can be left to sit for an indefinite period of time before they enter the dye vat.
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Most dyes will not hold color over time with a natural mordant with vinegar; the exception to that rule is pokeberry, which requires a vinegar mordant.
Most dyes will not hold color over time with a natural mordant with vinegar; the exception to that rule is pokeberry, which requires a vinegar mordant.
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I find the best color results occur from letting the fibers sit for a week after coming out of the mordant bath before being dyed.
I find the best color results occur from letting the fibers sit for a week after coming out of the mordant bath before being dyed.
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If you live among oak trees, it’s easy to make your own tannin solution — the base ingredient is acorns.
If you live among oak trees, it’s easy to make your own tannin solution — the base ingredient is acorns.

Harvesting Color (Artisan Books, 2011) is the essential guide to natural dyeing and creating gorgeous color from plants. Author and master dyer Rebecca Burgess presents over thirty plants which yield stunning natural shades and illustrates just how easy the dyes are to make. In this excerpt taken from part one, “Getting Started,” see how to make mordants for natural dyes.

You can purchase this book from the MOTHER EARTH NEWS store: Harvesting Color.

Preparing Mordants For Natural Dyes

Mordanting your fibers before they enter the dye vat is also known as premordanting — this process can be done immediately before dyeing the yarns, or mordanted fibers can be left to sit for an indefinite period of time before they enter the dye vat. I find the best color results occur from letting the fibers sit for a week after coming out of the mordant bath before being dyed.

Mordant Recipe for Protein Fibers

  • Published on Jun 19, 2013
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