by Renee Lindstrom, GCFP–Living in Natures Love Lifestyles insideawareness.com
Right from the dye Pot – Dyeing Cotton with Natural Fibers
Right from the Dye Pot – Cotton Dyed with Plant Fibers
Here are a few examples of cotton dyed with plants from the front and back yard!
Looking at the photo’s you may notice that some of these plants and material where dyed using solar power! It’s fun and easy, simply put plants in a jar, fill with water, add the material and put the lid on. Let it rest until for up to 4 or 4 days, if you can!
Once the material was taken out of the dye bath and hung to dry I didn’t want to throw the dye and plant material in the compost. Longing to capture some of its beauty I made plant fiber paper from it!
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The garden plants & weeds used with dyed cotton
Bamboo – Leaves
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- Bamboo Leaves
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- Bamboo Leaf Dyed Fabric
Light shade of sage green
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
In this dye bath the bamboo leaves where brought to a boil and simmer with the cotton for a time and left for 24 hours. More leaves where added and it was re-heated. This was left for another 24 hours. For future bamboo dye baths I would choose using solar and continue this process to achieve darker colours.
Bamboo – Stalks
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- Bamboo Stalk Dye Bath
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- Bamboo Stalks
Yellow highlighted pale shade of green!
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
In this dye bath the bamboo stalks where brought to a boil and simmer with the cotton for a time and left for 24 hours. More leaves where added and it was re-heated. This was left for another 48 hours. For future bamboo dye baths I would choose using solar and continue this process to achieve darker colours.
Butterfly Tree – Flowers
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- Buddleia Flowers
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- Buddleia davidii
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- Dye bath from Buddleia Flowers
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- Fresh from the dye pot: left dyed from flowers, right from leaves
Rich Shade of yellow!
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
One can use fresh or dried flowers.
Butterfly Tree – Leaves & Stems
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- Buddleia Leaves & Limbs
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- Dye bath from Buddleia Leaves & Limbs
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- Fresh from the dye pot: left dyed from flowers, right from leaves
Bright yellow!
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
Crocosmia
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- Crocosmia Dyed Fabric
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- Crocosmia Solar Dye Bath
Bright Pale sunshine yellow!
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
Hollyhock
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
Bright Shade of Pink with purple highlights!
Maple – Pacific Northwest (red stems, purple & green sided leaves)
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- Maple – Pacific Northwest
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- Pacific Northwest Maple
Pale Green with blue highlights!
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
Thistle – Leaves
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- Canadian Thistle Dye Bath
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- Canadian Thistle Dye Bath
Warm shade of yellow!
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
Yellow Dock – Leaves & Seeds (that have turned red)
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- Yellow Dock Dye Bath
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- Yellow Dock
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- Yellow Dock Seeds and Leaves
Deep warm yellow!
This cotton was prepared with an alum mordant after a soda ash bath.
Recommended Reading:
- Natural Color: Vibrant Plant Dye Projects for Your Home and Wardrobe
by Author Sasha Duerr - The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes: Personalize Your Craft with Organic Colors from Acorns, Blackberries, Coffee, and Other Everyday Ingredients
by Author Sasha Duerr - Harvesting Color: How to Find Plants and Make Natural Dyes by Author
Rebecca Burgess
Living in Natures Love 