Dock Yellow Root – Cut
Source: Rumex spp. (Dock family)

Dock Yellow Root, cut and dried, is a traditional dye source used to create warm yellows and coral-pink tones on protein fibres. Thanks to its anthraquinone content, it offers colour versatility depending on the pH of your bath:

• In acidic to neutral conditions, expect golden yellows.

• In alkaline baths, it shifts to peachy or pink hues, particularly on silk.

This root also provides mild tannin action, making it suitable for cellulose.

Main Components:

• Anthraquinones

• Mild tannins

• Oxalates (naturally occurring)

Suggested Quantities (WOF):

• 30–50% for strong shades

• Simmer gently for 45–60 minutes

• Soak overnight to increase yield

Uses:

• Yellow and pink dyeing on wool & silk

• Alkaline baths for peach/pink tones

• Mild tannin pretreatment for cellulose

• Historical dyeing and iron modification

The Plant: Dock plants (Rumex spp.) grow widely in Europe. While often overlooked, the roots are rich in traditional dye compounds, producing yellow to coral tones with a rustic, natural charm.

Light Fastness: Medium

Form: Cut dried root

Tips:
Soak overnight before simmering. Adjust bath pH to explore colour shifts.

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Please note: cut root bark is currently out of stock but will be restocked soon.

Barberry Root Bark – Ground & Cut
Source: Berberis spp. (Barberry)

Barberry root bark is a traditional dye material valued for its high content of berberine, a potent plant alkaloid that yields clear, brilliant yellows on protein fibres. When modified with iron, it shifts to olive greens, making it a versatile addition to any natural dyer’s toolkit.

This listing includes ground root bark for quick extraction and cut bark for longer decoctions or soaking methods.

Barberry is known for its excellent light fastness, especially on wool and silk.

Main Components:

• Berberine (alkaloid)

• Alkaloid-rich tannins

Suggested Quantities (WOF):

• 20–30% for clear yellow

• With iron: 25–40% for olive tones

• Simmer gently for 60 minutes

Uses:

• Brilliant yellow dyeing on wool and silk

• Olive green shades with iron

• Layered plant dyeing with tannins and modifiers

• Historical dyeing and pigment preparation

The Plant: Barberry is a spiny shrub found across Europe and Asia. The root bark is its most dye-rich part, containing vibrant yellow berberine compounds also used in traditional medicine and inks.

Light Fastness:
High (excellent retention on protein fibres)

Form:
Ground and cut root bark

Tips:
Try layering with tannins like oak gall or sumac to deepen tone. Use on its own for luminous yellows, or with iron sulfate for olive greens.

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German Weld (Reseda luteola) – Dried Natural Dye Plant

Our German Weld offers clear, lightfast yellow for your natural dye projects. With a yellow dye content of 5–8%, this classic botanical dye delivers reliable, vibrant results on wool, silk, and cellulose fibres. Sourced from Germany and carefully dried, it’s a staple for every natural dyer’s studio.

Weld (Reseda luteola) is renowned for producing beautiful yellow shades and for its role in creating historic greens such as Saxon or Lincoln green (achieved by dyeing indigo first, then weld). Consistent, high-quality results every time.

Colour fastness: Excellent

Simple Recipe:
A basic recipe for dyeing wool with Reseda:

• Use 50–100% Reseda (Weld) extract at 80°C for one hour. (Strongest yellow achieved with 100%)

• Add 7–10% soda ash

• Wool mordanted with alum at 10%—leave overnight for best results

Perfect for beginner and experienced dyers alike!

• Sourced from Germany

• 5–8% yellow dye content

• Dried, cut plant material (not powdered)

• Sold by weight (kg)

• Excellent lightfastness

Horse Chestnut Bark – Cut

Source: Aesculus hippocastanum

Cut Horse Chestnut Bark is a lesser-known but valuable source of natural tannins, especially effective for cellulose fibre preparation, natural greys with iron, and historical dye practices. This bark contains condensed tannins, making it well suited for textile work on both plant and animal fibres.

Our bark is coarsely cut and ideal for slow dyeing, decoctions, or tannin-rich soaks. It can be used alone or combined with other tannins or metal salts for complex tones and improved mordant adhesion.

Main Components:

• Condensed tannins
• Flavonoids
• Saponins (minor)

Suggested Quantities (WOF – Weight of Fabric):

• 20–80% WOF for decoction or fibre soak
• Simmer for 1 hour or soak overnight
• Use hot or cool for varied tones

Uses:

• Pre-treatment of Cellulose Fibres – improves mordant take-up
• Iron Modification – yields soft greys and warm browns
• Natural Dyeing – use alone or as a tannin base
• Historical Dye Methods – suitable for re-enactment dyeing and archival processes

The Plant:

Horse chestnut is a deciduous tree native to southeastern Europe, now naturalised across Ireland and the UK. Its bark has long been used in folk medicine and traditional dyeing for its tannin content and gentle tones. When modified with iron, it reveals subtle grey-browns, ideal for grounding brighter botanical colours.

Light Fastness:

Medium to High (when used with a mordant)

Form:

• Coarse-cut bark
• Not water-soluble; requires simmering or soaking

🌿 Tip: Combine with iron sulphate for muted greys, or use as a base layer in multi-step dyeing on cellulose fibres.

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Quebracho Bark – Cut & Ground

Source: Schinopsis lorentzii (Quebracho Colorado)

Quebracho bark is a warm-toned, condensed tannin-rich material traditionally used in natural dyeing, leather tanning and fibre pre-treatment. We offer both cut bark and ground bark, each suitable for slow processes and earthy beige tones.

• Cut Bark: Ideal for decoctions and slow extractions
• Ground Bark: Finely milled for quicker infusion and stronger colour release

🌿 For those looking for faster solubility, our Quebracho Extract is available as a separate listing.

Main Components:

• Condensed tannins
• Flavonoids (including fisetin & dihydrofisetin)

Suggested Quantities (WOF – Weight of Fabric):

Cut or Ground Bark
• 30–50% WOF (soaked overnight or simmered 1 hour)

Extract (sold separately, see link below)
• 5–15% WOF (dissolves directly in water)

Uses:

• Natural Dyeing of Protein & Cellulose Fibres – beige
• Iron Modification – create grey, warm taupe or darker brown/beige shades
• Tannin Pre-treatment for Cellulose – use prior to mordanting
• Ink & Surface Design – ground bark can be brewed into concentrated liquids

The Plant:

Native to Argentina and Paraguay, Schinopsis lorentzii (Quebracho Colorado) is a dense hardwood whose bark yields powerful condensed tannins. A favourite among natural dyers for its earthy, iron-reactive shades and broad fibre compatibility.

Light Fastness:

Medium to High (especially with iron modifier)

Form Options:

• Cut Bark – coarse, for slow extractions and decoctions
• Ground Bark – finer, for quicker and deeper colour releases
• Powdered Extract (sold separately) – fast-dissolving, highly concentrated

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African Tagetes Flowers – Tagetes patula

Dye Colour: Yellow and Orange | Botanical: Tagetes patula | Grown & Dried in Ireland

Bring the warmth of summer to your fibre work with our hand-harvested African Tagetes flowers (Tagetes patula), grown and dried in County Clare, Ireland. These marigold-like blossoms yield rich yellow and orange hues ideal for natural dyeing.

Unlike Tagetes erecta, this smaller-flowered variety is more delicate in shape, making it well suited to both dye extraction and eco-printing, as well as bundle dyeing. Its accessible petal structure makes it a favourite for surface design artists - though the pressed or fresh versions would work better.

🌼 Limited availability – grown in small batches using ecological methods.

Colour Fastness:

Poor to Medium

Product Details:

• Quantity: 25g (approx. 25–35 flower heads)

• Grown & Dried in: County Clare, Ireland

• Ideal for: Colour extraction, eco-printing, surface design

Mordant-Based Recipe for Wool (Hot and Cold Dyeing)

Ingredients:

• 25g of Tagetes patula flowers

• 100g of wool fibre

• 10% alum mordant (based on fibre weight)

Hot Dyeing Instructions:

1. Soak flowers overnight in water

2. Boil for 1 hour to extract the dye, then strain

3. Add mordanted wool and simmer for 1 hour

4. Leave the wool to cool overnight in the bath for richer tones

5. Rinse gently and dry

Cold Dyeing Instructions:

1. Soak the flowers for 24–48 hours in cool water

2. Strain the flowers and add mordanted wool to the bath

3. Let sit 1–3 days, stirring occasionally

4. Rinse gently and dry when colour is achieved

Enjoy rich, locally grown colour whether you're dipping skeins or creating botanical prints.
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