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

MYROBALAN EXTRACT ~ Tannin Mordant & Natural Dye

Myrobalan Extract, derived from the nuts of Terminalia chebula, is a rich source of natural tannins, including gallic and ellagic acid. Traditionally used in textile dyeing and printing, it enhances mordant fixation on cellulose fibers and produces shades ranging from light yellow to deep brown. Combined with iron, it is a key ingredient in creating grey and black tones.

Uses & Benefits:

• Mordanting: Prepares cellulose and protein fibres for improved dye absorption.

• Dyeing & Printing: Produces soft yellow to brown tones, deepening when used with alum or iron.

• Versatile Applications: Used in tannery, ink preparation, and silk processing.

About the Plant:

Chebulic Myrobalan grows across Asia and parts of Africa, prized for its tannin-rich fruits. It has been used for centuries in textile traditions, tannery, and even traditional medicine.

Recommended Usage for Dyeing:

• As a mordant for cellulose fibres: Use 10–20% of the weight of the fabric (WOF).

• For light yellow tones: Use 5–10% WOF.

• For deeper brown shades: Use 20–30% WOF.

• When used with iron for greys and blacks: Start with 10–15% WOF of Myrobalan, then follow with an iron afterbath (1–3% WOF).

Dissolve the extract in hot water before adding it to the dye bath for best results.

For optimal results, use as a pre-mordant or in combination with iron for darker tones.

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• The Magic of Natural Dyes & Cyanotype

• Wild Colour: Pigments, Paints & Inks

• Professional Toolkit

• 1 year professional natural dyeing course
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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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Oak Gall Extract > 95% tannic acid

Source: Oak Galls (Quercus infectoria, Quercus spp.)

Oak Gall Extract is a tannin-rich, natural auxiliary derived from galls formed on oak trees. These galls are exceptionally high in hydrolysable tannins, especially gallotannins, making this extract a powerful resource for natural dyeing, ink making, and cellulose fibre pretreatment.

Unlike condensed tannins (like those from acacia or quebracho), hydrolysable tannins such as these produce much cooler tones when combined with iron – ideal for grey colours and part of black colour development.

Main Components:

• Gallotannins (hydrolysable tannins)
• Gallic acid
• Ellagic acid

Suggested Quantities (WOF – Weight of Fabric):

• Pre-treatment: 10–15% WOF
• Iron dyeing (greys/blacks): 15–20% WOF
• Ink making: 1 part oak gall extract to 1 part ferrous sulfate in water

Uses:

• Pre-treating Cellulose Fibres: Enhances mordanting and dye uptake
• Grey Dyeing with Iron: Creates cool to purple greys
• Ink Making: Core ingredient in historic iron gall inks
• Surface Design & Printing: Use in thickened pastes with iron modifiers

The Plant:

Oak galls form as a natural defence mechanism when certain wasps interact with oak trees. Rich in natural tannins, these galls have been harvested for centuries for dyeing and writing inks. This extract is purified and powdered for convenience and consistent performance.

Light Fastness:

High (when paired with a mordant)

Note:

This is not a dye extract with colour of its own, but a tannin auxiliary that works best when paired with metal salts (especially iron) or mordants.

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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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Acacia Extract
Source: Black Acacia (Acacia mearnsii De Wild)

Acacia Extract is a high-quality, plant-based tannin obtained from the bark of Black Acacia, also known as "Black Wattle" or "Mimosa." Rich in condensed tannins (60-65%), this extract offers excellent versatility for both pre-treatment and dyeing applications.

Main Components:

• Condensed Tannins 60-65%
• Flavonoids (chalcones)

Suggested Quantities (WOF - Weight of Fabric):

• Light Shades: Use 5-10% WOF for beige tones.
• Medium Shades: Use 10-15% WOF for brown hues.
• Dark Shades: Use 15-20% WOF for grey and near-black tones when combined with ferrous sulfate.
• Deep Black Shades: Combine with other tannins (e.g., Tara) and extracts (e.g., Logwood) for rich, dark colours with iron sulfate.

Uses:

• Pre-Treatment of Cellulose Fibres: Acacia extract is highly rich in tannins, perfect for pre-treating cellulosic fibres to enhance mordant fixation and improve colour adhesion. Due to its natural colour, it will impart a slight tint to the fibres.
• Natural Dyeing & Textile Printing of Cellulose: Acacia extract can be used with or without mordant, producing shades ranging from beige and brown to grey and almost black. Combining with other tannins and iron sulfate results in rich, dark shades.
• Other Uses: Ideal for tannery applications, adhesives in the wood industry, and corrosion protection for metals.

The Plant:
Black Acacia, or Acacia mearnsii, is native to southeastern Australia and has become widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including South and East Africa, Brazil, and India. Known as the largest global source of plant tannins, the bark of Black Acacia contains 30-40% tannins (pro-anthocyanidins) and flavonoids, making it a valuable resource for a variety of industries.

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Grape Seed Extract
Source: White Grape Seeds (Vitis Vinifera L.) | Grape Seed Extract from Occitania

Grape Seed Extract is a 100% natural dye made from the seeds of white grapes, upcycled from the by-products of the wine-making industry. Produced sustainably through a water-based extraction process, this extract supports circular economy principles, offering an eco-friendly option for textile dyeing and beyond.

Main Components:

• Condensed Tannins > 70% (catechin equivalent)
• Eco-friendly, upcycled product
• Water-extracted for minimal environmental impact

Suggested Quantities (WOF - Weight of Fabric):

• Light Shades: Use 5–10% WOF for soft, pinky-beige hues (without mordant).
• Medium Shades: Use 10–15% WOF for more intense colour.
• Dark Shades: Use 5–20% WOF and combine with mordants such as iron for darker tones like grey.

Uses:

• Natural Dye & Textile Printing: Suitable for all types of fibres, whether mordanted or not. Typical shades depend on the recipe and mordant, including pinky-beige (no mordant), grey (with iron), and orange (with titanium). The extract is registered as "metal-free" and provides good lightfastness.
• Other Uses: Ideal for tannery processes, antioxidants, and more.

The Plant:
The vine (Vitis vinifera) is a woody, climbing plant, known for its long stems that can grow up to six metres. Its small flowers are greenish-white, and the fruits are grape clusters. Grapes have been cultivated for thousands of years in Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. They are used for fresh eating, drying as raisins, or fermentation to produce wine.

Upcycling of By-products:
Grape Seed Extract is produced through the upcycling of wine industry by-products, contributing to circular economy practices. The wine industry offers a wealth of natural ingredients such as wines, juices, concentrates, and polyphenols, while minimizing waste through innovation and new technologies. The producer is located in the heart of the South of France’s vineyard region and proudly contributes to this sustainable bio-economy.

Recipe for Dyeing with Grape Seed Extract:

Ingredients:

• Grape Seed Extract (use WOF formula)
• 1 litre of water to dissolve (adjust based on the amount of fabric)
• Pre-mordanted fabric (cotton, wool, silk)
• Optional: Iron modifier for grey tones

Instructions:

1. Dissolve the Grape Seed Extract in warm water, stirring well until fully dissolved.
2. Add pre-mordanted or not mordanted fabric to the dye bath.
3. Heat the fabric in the dye bath for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, leave overnight (optional).
   
4. Rinse thoroughly in cold water and dry in the shade.
5. Optional: For grey tones, dip the dyed fabric in an iron modifier bath.

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