ORGANIC ANNATTO SEEDS (Bixa orellana) ~ Dye Colour Yellow and Orange
Harvested in the Wild of Côte D'Ivoire
Wool, Silks, Cotton and Linen can be dyed successfully with Annatto Seeds. It gives a radiant yellow orange. If you combine the dye bath with Cochineal you get brilliant reds and rose-red colours.
*The dye is not very light fast and might have to be redyed after a few years. However, combined with Cochineal, it will hold out longer.
**Use Cream of tartar and Cochineal for orange red colours. Pre dye silks with madder root, then add to an Annatto bath to make a beautiful copper orange. A yolk yellow can be achieved using tartaric acid and Annatto seeds.
Colour fastness: Poor - medium
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Basic Recipe for yellow:
*You can use this bath again for a yellow orange and a light yellow orange, with every further dip the dye will be less vibrant.
**It is worthwhile soaking the Wool in a vinegar bath for 10 minutes before dyeing.
100gr wool or silk mordanted in 15% Alum and 10% Cream of Tartar for 1 hour.
100g Annatto Seeds
1.Soak 100gr Annatto seed with 10gr Soda in water over night.
2.Blend in a mixer and simmer for 1 hour. Pour mixture through a cloth, tie off the seeds (dye bag) and keep the dye bath.
3.To dye: Add the silk for 20 minutes at 80 degrees.
Simmer wool for one hour without the dye bag.
Add the silk again for another 15min. Wash and rinse.
