Natural Sources for Natural Dyes

Making your own natural dyes is a great way to experience nature's bounty as well as provide some useful knowledge on self-reliance. Although detailed instructions can be found online or at your local library, most of these dyes can be harnessed by boiling a mixture of one part plant material and one part water. Before the cloth is dyed, it will need to be soaked in a fixative of water and either salt or vinegar depending on the nature of the dying materials. After following the instructions on using a natural fixative, soak the material in the dye solution until the desired saturation of dye is complete.

Yellow

A variety of flowers can be utilized into a natural yellow dye, including those of dandelions, sunflowers, marigolds, daffodils and dahlias. The bark of sumac and the leaves of willow trees are also good sources for natural yellow dyes.

Brown

When it comes to natural brown dyes, there is virtually no limit to the natural sources that are available. In the early spring, gather the red buds that form on so many red maple trees. These little buds can be dried and used to form a nice reddish brown dye.

Red

For lighter shades of red, use rose hips or the bark of crab apple trees. For a darker shade of red, gather wild blackberries. If a particularly deep shade of red is sought after, consider making a powerful dye from beets.

Blue

True blue is hard to come by in natural dies, but there are a number of natural options that create more common shades of purplish or greenish blue.Blueberries and raspberries can be used to create a quick and easy blue or purple dye. The fruit of dogwood trees creates a green-blue colored dye. Cornflower petals are the only local source of real blue that I am aware of.

Green

Sources of green natural dyes, on the other hand, are not so difficult to find. Spinach leaves, rhododendron leaves and pine needles, for instance, provide some great natural looking shades of green, and every one who played outside much as a kid is aware of the yellow-green stains that fresh grass can leave.

Black

Surprisingly, the roots of iris plants provide one of the better sources of black dye. Sumac leaves can also be used to create a decent black dye.

Orange

Perhaps the best source for a natural orange dye is barberry. Just about any part of barberry will work, and the result is a very strong dye that should last for a good period of time.

This but scratches the surface of the range of natural dyes that are available out there. Remember that these are not industrial dyes and to wash your naturally dyed clothing separately in cold water.

Sources:

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/naturaldyes.html
http://www.landofmilkhoney.net/page/page/4551035.htm
http://www.essortment.com/all/naturaldyeplan_rxll.htm
http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/naturaldyes.shtml
http://www.aurorasilk.com/info/natural-dying.shtml