Dyeing cotton using natural plant dyes

by Renee Lindstrom , GCFP–Living in Natures Love Lifestyles insideawareness.com

Dye bath from Buddleia Flowers

Fresh from the dye pot: left dyed from flowers, right from leaves

When the natural dye and material are both ready the material is added to the dye pot and left to sit for at least 12 hours. It can be left longer depending upon ones patience, time and energy!

The above material was left in the dye pot for about 16 hours. Once removed it was lightly squeezed and hung to drip outside and then tumbled in a low heat.

The outcome is quite beautiful!

Many plants, leaves, stems, bark and roots can be used to make natural dyes. It is as simple as adding to water! It is the process of creating the dye and preparing the material that has more effort and takes time.

Buddleia Flowers

Buddleia Leaves & Limbs

Three parts of five steps to dyeing naturally:

(Revised – August, 2018)

PART ONE

1. Choose and gather the plant materials to explore with from your garden or neighbourhood

Leaves, Flowers, Stems or Roots

2. Prepare the dye from the flowers, leaves, stems or roots that you have chosen

add water and plant dye to a container and set in sun to use solar heat or place on stove and simmer until reaching desired colour
- I choose the sun and solar heat due to the ease and savings. On the stove it is a matter of leaving it at a low heat for hours.

3. Filter out plant material when desired colour is reached

PART TWO

4. While waiting for plants to create a natural dye choose and prepare the material to absorb the colour. This consists of:

Scouring the material – info link below
Mordant the material – info link below

PART THREE

5. Combine the material and the natural dye and depending upon the dye bath let set or swish the material through the bath evenly. I have discovered for the Butterfly Tree the material and dye bath can be easily sit for hours to darken. For the Butterbur dye bath the material needs to be laided out evenly without an bunches or the dye will be spotted.

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