DYER'S CHAMOMILE FLOWER DYE

Regular price €10,50 Save €-10,50
200 in stock
Clear glass jar with a metal clasp lid filled with yellow dried flowers on a wooden surface.
Dried yellow Dyer's Chamomile flowers on white timber flooring
Dyer's chamomile growing with yellow flowers

Irish Dyer’s Chamomile Flowers

Cota tinctoria · Homegrown in County Clare · Whole Dried Flower Heads

Our Dyer’s Chamomile flowers are grown, hand-collected and dried by us in County Clare, Ireland. Grown to organic principals and standards, but not certified organic.

The fully dried flower heads of Cota tinctoria contain a generous amount of yellow colour and produce clear, warm shades ranging from soft lemon and floral yellow to rich gold.

The whole flower heads are suitable for colour extraction and botanical flower printing. Each harvest is produced on a small scale, so availability is limited.

At a glance

  • Accepted botanical name: Cota tinctoria

  • Older botanical synonym: Anthemis tinctoria

  • Common names: Dyer’s Chamomile, Golden Marguerite and Yellow Chamomile

  • Plant part: Whole dried flower heads

  • Grown in: County Clare, Ireland

  • Production & Seed source: Grown, hand-collected and dried by AppleOak FibreWorks

  • Colours: Lemon yellow, clear yellow, warm yellow and gold

  • Uses: Dye extraction and botanical flower printing

  • Fibres: Wool, silk, cotton and linen

  • Mordant: Recommended; use a fibre-appropriate method

  • Suggested quantity: Approximately 25% WOF for a clear yellow

  • Colourfastness: Good to excellent when suitably prepared, dyed and finished

  • Quantity of flowers: 10g - approximately 60 flower heads

  • Origin: Botanical and suitable for vegan projects

Quantity

A 10g pack contains approximately 60 dried flower heads.

The number is approximate because this is naturally variable, hand-harvested material. Individual flower heads differ in size and weight.

At the suggested starting quantity of 25% WOF:

10g of flowers is suitable for approximately 40g of dry fibre.

For 100g of dry fibre, begin with:

25g Dyer’s Chamomile flowers
Equivalent to 25% WOF - weight of dry fibre.

Use more flowers for deeper yellow and gold shades, or less for paler lemon and cream tones.

Dyeing recipe for wool

Ingredients

  • 25 g dried Dyer’s Chamomile flowers

  • 100 g wool

  • Approximately 10 g alum - equivalent to 10% WOF

  • Enough water for the flowers and wool to move freely

Method

  1. Prepare: Scour the wool and mordant it with approximately 10% alum WOF, or follow your preferred wool-mordanting method. Wet the mordanted wool thoroughly.

  2. Soak: Cover the flowers with water and leave them overnight.

  3. Extract: Heat the flowers and soaking water to approximately 80–85°C (176–185°F) and hold for one hour.

  4. Strain: Strain the dye liquid through a cloth. The flowers may also be contained inside a securely tied dye bag.

  5. Dye: Add the thoroughly wetted, mordanted wool and heat at approximately 80–85°C (176–185°F) for up to one hour.

  6. Develop: Turn off the heat and allow the wool to cool in the bath. Leave it for several hours or overnight if a deeper shade is required.

  7. Finish: Rinse thoroughly, wash gently using a suitable pH-neutral detergent and dry away from strong sunlight.

A vigorous boil is unnecessary.

Protein and cellulose fibres require different preparation.

Dyeing cotton, linen or another cellulose fibre? Find suitable preparation and mordanting methods here.

Botanical flower printing

The intact dried flower heads can also be used for botanical contact printing.

For the clearest results:

  • Scour and mordant the fabric appropriately.

  • Rehydrate the dried flowers before arranging them.

  • Test the flowers on a small piece of fabric first.

  • Use firm and even contact between the flowers and fabric.

  • Follow a complete botanical-printing method suitable for the chosen fibre.

Results depend on the fibre, mordant, moisture, pressure, steaming method and processing time.

Colour possibilities

Method Possible result
Lower quantity or exhaust bath Pale lemon to cream
Approximately 25% WOF Clear, warm yellow
Higher quantity or repeated bath Deeper yellow to rich gold
Over an indigo or woad base Fresh green to leaf green
Light iron modification Olive, moss or green-brown
Botanical printing Yellow floral marks and impressions

Naturally grown flowers vary from one harvest to another. Colour descriptions are provided as a guide.

Creating green with indigo or woad

Always apply the blue first:

  1. Dye the scoured fibre in a correctly prepared indigo or woad vat.

  2. Allow it to oxidise completely between dips.

  3. Rinse the blue-dyed fibre thoroughly.

  4. Mordant it using a suitable method.

  5. Apply the Dyer’s Chamomile yellow bath.

A pale blue base followed by a strong yellow generally produces a clear, lively green. A deeper blue base creates darker leaf green and blue-green shades.

Always dye the blue first, followed by mordanting and Dyer’s Chamomile.

Modifying with iron

Iron can shift Dyer’s Chamomile yellow towards olive, moss and green-brown.

Use approximately 1–3% iron WOF in a separate, diluted afterbath. Begin at the lower end of the range and increase only if necessary.

Iron acetate is often a gentler option for textile fibres than applying ferrous sulphate directly.

Iron acetate may be purchased ready-made, produced using a traditional iron-water method or prepared by combining ferrous sulphate with sodium acetate using an appropriate recipe.

Homemade iron water can vary in strength. Test a small sample before treating the complete piece.

Excessive iron can make fibres harsh or brittle. Remove the fibre as soon as the desired colour develops and rinse thoroughly.

Tips from the dye pot

Tip Details
Soak overnight Soaking begins the colour extraction before heat is applied.
Use controlled heat Extract and dye at approximately 80–85°C rather than boiling vigorously.
Start at 25% WOF This is a useful starting quantity for a clear yellow.
Expect softer cold colour Cold extraction generally produces a paler and more variable result.
Print with whole flowers Rehydrate the dried flower heads before botanical printing.
Create green correctly Apply indigo or woad first, then mordant and dye with Dyer’s Chamomile.
Use iron sparingly Begin at approximately 1% WOF and increase only when necessary.
Reuse the bath A second extraction or exhaust bath may produce pale yellows.
Keep notes Record the flower quantity, fibre, mordant, water, temperature and time.

Colourfastness

Dyer’s Chamomile can produce good to excellent colourfastness when the fibre is appropriately prepared, mordanted, dyed and finished.

Performance still depends on the fibre, mordant, depth of shade, water chemistry and aftercare. Very pale shades and botanical prints may respond differently from deeper immersion-dyed colours.

Dry and store finished work away from strong, direct sunlight. Wash only when necessary using cool water and a gentle, pH-neutral detergent.

Storage and safe handling

  • Store sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

  • For textile dyeing and craft use only.

  • Not for consumption or use in food, drinks, cosmetics or herbal preparations.

  • Avoid creating or breathing plant dust and fine particles.

  • Prevent contact with eyes, mouth and open wounds.

  • Wear gloves and suitable protective equipment when handling dusty material.

  • People sensitive to chamomile or other plants in the daisy family should take particular care and avoid direct contact.

  • Follow the safety instructions for all mordants, iron and indigo-vat ingredients used.

  • Use dedicated dyeing equipment—never food-preparation utensils.

  • Keep away from food, children and pets.

For textile dyeing and craft use only - not for consumption.

What you receive

Dried Dyer’s Chamomile flower heads in a stand up pouch.

As this is hand-harvested natural material, the number, size, shape and colour of the flowers will vary.

Mordants, iron, indigo, woad and other dyeing supplies are sold separately.

Limited homegrown harvest

These flowers are grown, harvested and dried by us in County Clare, Ireland.

They are produced on a small scale, and the quantity available depends on each year’s growing conditions and harvest.

Once the annual harvest has sold out, the flowers may not be available again until the following season.

Packaging

We pack as sustainably as we can while protecting your dye materials. Pouch types may vary according to the availability of our preferred lower-impact options.

Display jars and other props are not included.

Learn with us

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your results, ask questions and explore natural colour alongside fellow natural dyers and dye-plant growers.


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