Madder Dye – Cut or Ground
Rich Natural Reds for Dyeing | Wild-Harvested in Eastern Europe

Madder (Rubia tinctorum) is a renowned natural dye that produces a stunning range of reds—from warm oranges and rich brick reds to deep blood reds and fiery crimson tones. The final shade depends on multiple factors, including soil conditions, root age, mineral content of the water, dyeing temperature, and fibre-to-dye ratio.

Dyeing Tips:

• Mordanting: Avoid cream of tartar when mordanting cold. 
• Soaking: Pre-soak fibres for at least 12h-24h before dyeing.
• Dyeing Methods: Madder can be used in both hot and cold dye baths. Adding chalk can help achieve better reds.

Colour Fastness: Excellent – Madder is known for its durability and deep, lasting hues.

Discover the beauty of natural dyeing with madder and create your own unique reds!

------------

Recipe for Wool: Downloadable PDF 

Recipe for Plant fibres: Downloadable PDF

Also available as dye kit!

Madder Dye Kit for Plant Fibers: Available Here »

Madder Dye Kit for wool & Silk: Available Here »

Basic Madder Dye Recipe

(Adjust quantities as needed to achieve your desired shade. Water quality will influence colour result. Oranges instead of reds are often more likely)

Ingredients:

• 100g dried madder roots (soaked overnight and blended if possible, or use ground)
• 100g mordanted fiber (Alum-treated)
  • Use 50g of fibre for darker reds or 300g for lighter shades
• 7–10 liters of water
• 6g calcium carbonate (chalk) (optional, for enhanced reds)

Instructions:

1. Soak the madder roots in the dye pot overnight.
2. Gently heat to 65°C (149°F) and maintain for one hour for red tones.
   • Higher temperatures will shift the colour towards brown.
3. Strain the dye bath through a cloth to remove root particles.
4. Add the mordanted fibre and the dye bag (optional, might result in uneven colour) back into the pot.
5. Maintain a temperature between 65–95°C (149–203°F) for one hour to develop the colour.

IMPORTANT: The higher the temperature, the darker and browner the final shade.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences and get support from fellow growers.

100% Natural Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)

Traceable · Traditionally fermented · Origin: India · Approx. 35-42% indigotin

This is a high-quality, truly natural indigo, prepared in India from fresh leaves of Indigofera tinctoria using a traditional natural fermentation process. The indigo is supplied in powdered form and produces clear, stable blue shades ranging from very pale sky blues to deep, dark navies.

All batches are subject to analytical controls to verify their natural origin. This additional level of checking provides reassurance and traceability in a market where adulteration and partial synthesis have become increasingly common.

The main colouring component is indigotin, valued for its excellent lightfastness and wash fastness when dyed correctly.

Use in textile dyeing

Indigo is an insoluble pigment rather than a mordant dye. In order to dye fibre, it must first be reduced from its blue, oxidised state into a soluble yellow-green form. This reduced indigo penetrates the fibre and then re-oxidises on contact with air — the moment when the characteristic blue colour develops.

This indigo is suitable for a wide range of vat systems, including natural fermentation vats, fructose or sugar vats, lime-based mineral vats, bran vats, and quick vats using hydros or thiourea dioxide. Vats typically operate at 30–40 °C, making indigo dyeing a comparatively low-energy process.

It can also be combined with other natural dyes, such as yellows or reds, to create layered colours including greens, purples, and complex overdyes.

Typical usage guide

For pale sky blues, approximately 1 g of indigo per 100 g of fibre is sufficient.
Medium denim blues are usually achieved with around 5 g per 100 g of fibre.
Deep navy shades generally require 12 g or more per 100 g of fibre, built up through multiple dips.

Other uses

Beyond textile dyeing, this indigo can be used as a natural pigment for paint making, ink, decorative finishes, and woodwork. When used as a pigment, it should be well ground into the chosen binder or medium to ensure even colour development and to avoid visible particles.

The plant

Indigofera tinctoria is a small shrub traditionally cultivated for indigo production and is thought to have originated in India. The plant and its dye are mentioned in some of the earliest Sanskrit texts, and indigo was long known as “the queen of dyes” before the widespread adoption of synthetic indigo at the end of the nineteenth century. Other species of Indigofera have also been used historically as sources of natural indigo.

Storage and safety

Store in a cool, dry place, sealed against moisture. Avoid inhaling fine powder and wear a mask when handling. Gloves are recommended when working with lime, hydros, or iron additives.
This product is not intended for food use.

Logwood Dye

Dye Colour: Blue, Purple & Black | Collected in the Wild in Haiti

Logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum), also known as Bois de Campeche or Campeachy Wood, is a natural, pH-sensitive dye that originates from wood found in Central America. This versatile dye creates stunning blues, purples, and deep blacks on wool, cotton, and silk. While its colour fastness is considered poor by experienced dyers, Logwood is commonly used in combination with other dyes to achieve rich, deep blacks. Perfect for eco-conscious artists, Logwood is available as cut or ground bark for your dyeing projects.

Colour Fastness: Poor (best used with other dyes for black)

Product Details:

• Dye Colour: Blue, Purple, and Black
• Perfect for: Wool, cotton, and silk
• Mordant: Alum (10%) for best results

Basic Recipe (Using Ground Bark):

1. Ingredients:

   • 65g Logwood bark (soaked for 2 days)
   • 100g mordanted yarn/fibre (Alum 10%)

Instructions:

• Bring the soaked bark to a simmer for 2 hours.
• Strain through cloth and add the yarn/fibre and dye bag to the dye bath.
• Simmer for 1 hour and then rinse.

Alternatively, soak the Logwood chips overnight, then boil for 1 hour before use.

For Logwood extract, please visit our Natural Dye Extracts Page.

Explore the potential of Logwood Dye for a range of vibrant blues, purples, and blacks in your natural dyeing projects!

COCHINEAL DYE ~ Dye colours red, pinks to purples

Origin: Canary Islands, Spain. Organically farmed and processed by Canaturex 

I am so delighted to have finally found some organic Cochineal. Lorenzo is one of the very first offering fully traceable Cochineal grown to organic principals.

Cochineal, a powerful dye sourced from tiny insects that feed on cacti, produces stunning shades of purple, red and pink. With just one dye bath, this incredible insect can create a range of hues, from deep, rich reds to delicate, fairy-like pinks. It is derived from the Dactylopius species of insects, and its body contains 19-22% carminic acid.

*To make one kilogram of cochineal dye, it takes about 80,000 to 100,000 insects. 

Excellent colour fastness is guaranteed.

---------------------

Recipe for Wool Fibres: Downloadable PDF

Recipe For Plant Fibres: Downloadable PDF

Basic recipe:

6% Cochineal
Wool yarn mordanted with Alum 10%


Soak Cochineal in Water overnight
blend using a stick blender

Add dye to dye bath
Bring to a simmer
Remove any black tar like bubbles

Strain through a cloth and keep to the side
Add yarn to bath simmer for one hour.

Add dye bag to second and any following dye baths.

WELD DYE (Reseda Luteola)
Dye Colour: Yellow and Green (when overdyeing) | Country of Collection: Typically Europe

Weld (Reseda Luteola) is a renowned plant-based colourant with a rich history, often used to create high-quality dyes in temperate regions. Paired with other traditional dye plants like Madder, Woad, and Dyer's Chamomile, it yields beautiful shades of yellow, which can then be overdyed with Woad to create the iconic Saxon and Lincoln greens. Legend has it that Lincoln Green was the signature hue of Robin Hood and his outlaws, achieved by overdyeing Weld yellow with Woad blue.

Colour Fastness: Excellent

Colour Outcomes by WOF Ratio:

• 100% WOF Dye (Weld): Produces a rich, vibrant yellow.
• Overdye with Woad: Creates stunning, lively greens.
• Use of Soda Ash: Intensifies yellow tones and helps with colour extraction.

Basic Recipe for Dyeing:

• Ingredients: 100% Weld, 7% Soda Ash, Wool (mordanted with Alum)
• Instructions:
  1. Soak Weld in the dye pot with Soda Ash overnight.
  2. Bring to a simmer for 1 hour.
  3. Strain through cloth and set aside.
  4. Add mordanted wool to the dye pot and simmer gently for 1 hour.
  5. For a paler yellow: Use the same dye bath for a second batch of mordanted yarn.
  6. Reuse the dye bath: It can be used up to 2 times for additional dyeing.

Embrace the rich tradition of Weld dye and bring centuries-old colours to your fibre projects, from vibrant yellows to lush greens when combined with Woad.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences, join courses and get support from fellow growers and dyers.

Black Walnut Shells
Dye Colour: Earthy Light and Dark Browns | Cultivated in the USA

Using Black Walnut Shells for dyeing results in a rich, natural-looking earthy brown colour after one or two dye baths for deeper tones. This dye works especially well with silk and wool materials and is known for its excellent colour fastness.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is a native North American tree known for its strong wood and high tannin content, which is ideal for natural dyeing. The shells are a rich source of tannins, giving the dye its deep, earthy brown hues. Traditionally, Black Walnut has been used for both dyeing and in herbal medicine.

Colour Fastness: Excellent

Colour Outcomes by WOF Ratio:

• 50% WOF Dye (Black Walnut Shells): Produces a light, earthy brown.
• 100% WOF Dye (Black Walnut Shells): Yields a deeper, richer brown.

Basic Recipe for Earthy Brown:

• Ingredients: 50% or 100% whole Black Walnuts (soaked overnight), Mordanted Fibre/Fabric

Instructions:

1. Soak the Black Walnuts in cold water overnight.
2. Bring the soaked walnuts to 80°C for one hour.
3. Strain out the shells/powder.
4. Add mordanted fibre/fabric to the dye bath and simmer at 80°C for one hour.
5. For deeper results, leave the fabric in the dye bath overnight or for up to 12 hours.
6. Rinse and dry to reveal a rich, earthy brown hue.

Unlock the rich, earthy tones of Black Walnut Shells and enjoy the depth and warmth it brings to your fabrics and yarns. Perfect for eco-conscious makers and those looking for natural, long-lasting colours.

Join The Natural Dyers & Growers Academy to share your experiences and get support from fellow growers.