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Although it is very rewarding and exciting to dye fibres directly from plants that you have grown yourself, dye extracts have several advantages. They are;
- Economical – a small amount of plant extract dyes a large amount of fibre
- Very concentrated, using up little storage space
- Easy to repeat a colour if you keep careful records
- Easy and cheap to transport
- They save time as they do not require lengthy pre-soaking and simmering
- Dye plant extracts have no waste in the form of wet leaves or roots to dispose of at the end, &
- Two or more dye extracts can be mixed to obtain different dye colours.
How to use natural dye extracts
Before you start, please read our safety guidelines.
Make a paste with 1 teaspoon (5 grams) extract and a small amount of warm water. Fill a saucepan with water and add the dissolved extract. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the extract on the water in the saucepan. Some extracts need more stirring than others to dissolve properly.
Add pre-wetted mordanted fibre. Bring the dye bath to simmering point slowly (do not go over 60°C for madder) and then simmer gently for 45 to 60 minutes. Stir gently from time to time. Leave overnight to cool.
Proportions
The amount you use will depend on the particular dye extract and on the natural dye colour you want to achieve. On average, 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of extract will dye 50 grams of fibre a good colour, or 100 grams of fibre a lighter colour. Some extracts will dye less than that and cochineal will dye more. We advise you to try your own experiments as dye colours will vary with the type of fibre, the mordant and the quality of water.
I usually add 25 grams of fibre to a dye bath made with 5 grams of extract to a get a dark colour and then I add another 25 grams of fibre. Depending on the colours I obtain, I may add another one or two 25 grams batches of fibre.
Storage
Dye extracts are very sensitive to moisture and will go hard if left in the open. Avoid measuring the dye or storing it in a steamy kitchen. Some extracts as well as going hard can change colour, coreopsis for example, goes very hard and black when left in an open bag. This does not seem to affect results, however, and the extracts will still produce good colours. Hardened powder, however, is more difficult to measure.
Therefore, expel as much air as possible from the plastic bag when re-sealing it. Seal it well and put the closed bag inside another grip seal bag. If well looked after, the extracts can last for quite a while.
Cost
Dye extracts may look a little pricey at first but they are very economical when you take into account their concentration. If you compare the price of 10 grams of madder extract, for example, with 100 grams of the dye plant, you will see that they are good value.
For variation in dye strength and dye colours of the different natural dye extracts - Click Here!
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