Feature
| natural dyes
(alizarin and purpurin) does not have this indigo have the advantage of the botanical from Wild Colours (www.wildcolours.
wealth of colour variation and looks much value of indigo to alleviate itching, and co.uk), Mulberry Dyer (www.mulberrydyer.
more uniform.” the homeopathic value of indigo to calm co.uk), The Natural Dye Studio (www.
“Natural dyes also tend to age well,” nerves.” So wearing naturally dyed colours thenaturaldyestudio.com) or Aurora Silk
continues Teresinha, “and develop a can positively influence your health as well (www.aurorasilk.com).
patina and an abrash as they are exposed as your mood. There are also plenty of books available
to sunlight and normal use. The patina is There are lots of untrue myths about on natural dyeing, including Brilliant
a mellowing of the colours into an eye- natural dyes, but the experiences of many Colours on Silk by Cheryl Kolander
pleasing sheen and the abrash is the slightly natural dyers and crafters tell us that they (available from www.aurorasilk.com).
uneven hues that emerge as different are actually easy to source, easy to grow You could also join The Dye Club
dye lots, even of the same colour, fade at and prepare, simple to use and produce from The Mulberry Dyer, where you learn
different rates as they age.” gorgeous effects that are colourfast. With the basics of working with natural dyes,
The final benefit to natural dyes is some basic know-how and practise, natural through to more advanced techniques. Each
on your health. Cheryl Kolander says: dyes create yarns with unique colours that three month period covers a different fibre,
“Naturally dyed silks have proven look fantastic for any crochet project. starting with wool, then silk, cotton and
therapeutic value, beyond the joy of their linen. Each month, you get the yarn to dye,
beauty. Your skin is the largest, most FIND OUT MORE appropriate mordant, dyestuff, instructions
absorptive organ of your body so what You can find more information, buy yarns and access to the Dye Club blog to help
you put on the outside, ends up inside. For that have been coloured with natural you with any problems. Find out more at
example, colours dyed with natural vat dyes, and buy various dyeing supplies,
www.mulberrydyer.co.uk.
DyEINg wITh ONION skINs
Create a gorgeous deep yellow/golden brown with this onion-dyeing recipe from
Amanda Perkins at the natural dye Studio. (www.thenaturaldyestudio.com)
You will need:
• A large saucepan that’s no longer 3. dye bAth
used for cooking (it needs to be large now top up the pan with water so
enough to hold 100g of yarn with you have enough liquid to dye with.
room to move it around) Add the yarn and simmer for half an
• Mordant: 6g alum, 3g cream of tartar hour. remove the yarn and hand wash
• Onion skins to fill up the pan gently using washing-up liquid (it’s
• Washing-up liquid best to use an ordinary brand because
• Skein of undyed yarn some of the environmentally friendly
liquids contain citric acid, which may
1. MOrdAnting change the colour).
First the yarn needs to be mordanted,
to help the yarn suck up and retain 4. SeCOnd Skein
the colour. dissolve the alum and there may be enough colour left in the
cream of tartar in warm water and add liquid to be able to dye another skein
to the pan. Fill the pan, leaving enough with, so you could add a second skein
room for the yarn, and bring up to a and simmer for another half an hour.
simmer. Add the yarn and simmer the second skein will be a much paler
for 40 minutes. remove the yarn and colour than the first.
leave to drip dry; it needs to be damp
when dyed so you do not need to dry
it. dispose of the mordant normally, it
is perfectly harmless. (right from top) the dyeing process:
• Onion skins are great for producing a
2. CreAte the dye
deep yellow/golden brown colour.
PiC FrOM Mike rObertS At
WWW.WildCOlOurS.CO.uk
Fill the pan to the top with onion skins,
• yarn mordanting in a saucepan.
fill it with water and leave overnight to WWW.thenAturAldyeStudiO.COM
soak. the next day, bring to the boil
• y arn immersed in the dyeing pan.
and simmer for 40 minutes. Sieve out
WWW.thenAturAldyeStudiO.COM
• d yed yarns hanging up to dry; various
the onion skins and save the liquid
different shades can be created.
because this is the dye. WWW.thenAturAldyeStudiO.COM
www.insidecrochet.co.uk
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