Ready to start your journey naturallyl dyeing from home? Here you will find organically grown dyestuff to get dyeing and experimenting with. I used traditional dye plants as my preferred dyestuff as they provide me with the most light and colour-fast colours. Difficult to obtain in Australia, I am proud to offer you a small collection of my home grown dyestuff. (with Black walnut hulls from my Dad’s precious tree!)

Madder root: THERE WILL BE MORE COMING SOON WHEN I DIG UP THIS YEARS CROP! Harvested late Autumn, this precious root takes a minimum of three years to grow to maturity. Roots are dug up, washed, chopped up and dried. 50 gram packs. I recommend going gently and slowly when dyeing with Madder root. I soak the dried root overnight in warm water before warming to under a simmer and holding for one hour. I then drain out the root, (and keep to re-use one more time repeating the above steps for a paler pink). Add your damp, pre-mordanted yarn or cloth to your dyebath and gently re-heat for around one hour. You can leave to soak for another night if desired. I tend to use around 3 or 4 tablespoons per 50grams of dry fibre.

Weld: harvested in Summer, dried and then chopped up. Weld produces clear, bright yellows and is an ancient and traditional dye plant. Very hard to obtain in Australia! I bring my dye bath to a simmer for an hour before draining off the dyestuff and dyeing my fibres. Dye over or under indigo for excellent bright greens.

Dyer’s Chamomile: for cheery, warm yellows. Excellent for dyeing over madder dyed fibres for corals and oranges, or over or under indigo for greens. Use the same steps as Weld. My most used plant for yellows..

Black Walnuts: I use the same method of preparation for walnuts as I do for madder root. Slow and long pre-soaks. You can bring the dye bath to a boil though to really get the colour out. Alot of colour will wash out when you rinse out your fibres and this is normal. The colour will be paler than it looks in the dye bath. You can add some Iron water to help deepen the brown. I love using Walnuts over or under other colours. It gives a beautiful, earthy depth to a tone. I really notice a difference.

Pomegranite Skin: more coming soon! Just awaiting the fruit to be attacked by the birds and then I shall collect the remains.