Dyeing Recipe

helpful ratios

  • 425 g = 1 lb of fabric

equipment needed

  • stainless steel pot - will be used strictly for dyeing, should not be used for food
  • stainless steel mixing spoon
  • glass sealable container
  • metric scale
  • stainless steel teaspoon
  • stainless steel tablespoon
  • mortar and pestle (dependent on dye materials used)

ingredients

  • dye materials

process

  • if using roots, bark, & hard materials
    • weigh out the dye materials within the brand’s recommended % WOF based on the desired opacity
    • break or grind the material into smaller pieces to help release the color
    • soak the pieces in warm water for at least 12 hours - longer soaking often yields better results
    • after soaking, add more water to the pot and gently heat the mixture to a simmer (avoid boiling)
    • keep the mixture at this temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes to extract the color, then strain (the materials can be dried and reused for additional extractions)
      • if storing for later, put the liquid dye bath in a glass sealable container. make sure to fill it to the top so that there is no air in the container to fuel mold growth
      • if using right away
        • put the dye liquid in a pot and bring the mixture to about 140°F
        • put your fabric in the dye mixture and make sure there is room for the fabric to move around, but that all of the fabric is at least under the surface of the mixture
        • let your fabric soak in the mixture for at least an hour at 140°F temperature
          • if you’re happy with the color
            • take your fabric out and rinse it in warm water
            • place the fabric on a drying rack to dry thoroughly
          • if you’d like your fabric to take on more color
            • take the pot off the heat and put a lid on it
            • place the covered pot in a cool, dry place and take your fabric out the next morning
            • rinse the fabric in warm water
            • place the fabric on the drying rack to dry thoroughly
  • if using fresh & soft plant materials
    • weigh out the dye materials within the brand’s recommended % WOF based on the desired opacity
    • finely chop the fresh material and put the material in a “tea bag” made of cheesecloth, screen printing material, or mesh
    • submerge the tea bag in a pot of water and slowly heat the bath to a simmer (not a boil) and hold it there for at least 30 minutes
    • strain out the plant matter (the materials can be used for another extraction, but they cannot be preserved for future use once they’ve been wet)
      • if storing for later, put the liquid dye bath in a glass sealable container. make sure to fill it to the top so that there is no air in the container to fuel mold growth
      • if using right away
        • put the dye liquid in a pot and bring the mixture to about 140°F
        • put your fabric in the dye mixture and make sure there is room for the fabric to move around, but that all of the fabric is at least under the surface of the mixture
        • let your fabric soak in the mixture for at least an hour at the 140°F temperature
          • if you’re happy with the color
            • take your fabric out and rinse it in warm water
            • place the fabric on a drying rack to dry thoroughly
          • if you’d like your fabric to take on more color
            • take the pot off the heat and put a lid on it
            • place the covered pot in a cool, dry place and take your fabric out the next morning
            • rinse the fabric in warm water
            • place the fabric on the drying rack to dry thoroughly
  • if using dye extract powders
    • weigh out the dye materials within the brand’s recommended % WOF based on the desired opacity
    • put the extract in a “tea bag” made of cheesecloth, screen printing material, or mesh
    • put the tea bag in a pot of warm water
    • put the pot on the stove and bring the mixture up to a temperature of about 140°F
    • put your fabric in the dye mixture and make sure there is room for the fabric to move around, but that all of the fabric is at least under the surface of the mixture
    • let your fabric soak in the mixture for at least an hour at the 140°F temperature
      • if you’re happy with the color
        • take your fabric out and rinse it in warm water
        • place the fabric on a drying rack to dry thoroughly
      • if you’d like your fabric to take on more color
        • take the pot off the heat and put a lid on it
        • place the covered pot in a cool, dry place and take your fabric out the next morning
        • rinse the fabric in warm water
        • place the fabric on the drying rack to dry thoroughly

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