February Workshop - Natural Dye Extracts

Alison Daykin, ably supported by Jane Deane, ran the workshop. Both Alison and Jane are dyers and weavers of considerable experience.

Having already been provided with sources for materials and equipment required, we were introduced to safety precautions and various ways to mordant our fibres. The method for immersion dyeing was described and we were told that our range of colours may be extended by changing the pH of the dye bath and with the use of iron and copper salts.

Alison introduced us to two-colour dyeing, as well as showing us various ways by which we could vary the chroma of the dye in the fibre.

Alison's dyed hanks, using natural dye extracts
From left to right - red lac; red lac over-dyed with indigo; two toned method hank; two toned over-dyed with indigo; injection method hank; injection method hank over-dyed with indigo.

Jane Dean's display of tops of wool and silk recently dyed with natural dye extracts.

Jane's carpet. Mulberry, red and purple lac, marigold, annatto, cochineal, pomegranate, indigo and sorghum.

Jane Dean's display of recently dyed yarns of wool and silk with natural dye extracts.

Jane showed the madder extract powder that had been
mixed to a paste with warm water,
ready to add to the dye bath.

The madder exract dye bath with skeins added,
ready to come to simmer.

Jane's yarn immersed in the madder dye.

The yarn has been removed from the madder bath
and rinsed.

Modifying colours - Maggie Stearn's teal skeins treated with a variety of modifiers. From left to right-: teal, citric acid, soda ash, a pale shade of teal and finally iron.

Mary Bosworth-Smith has used a Dorset fleece which she mordanted with alum and then modified with citric acid. The modified version is on the right.

Two colour dyeing was achieved placing the balls in
a prepared dye bath and simmering for 45 minutes.
The balls were removed and a new dye bath prepared.

The balls have been returned to the
second dye bath where the balls are
inverted and simmered for 45 minutes.

The injection method - the balls are
injected with dye using a syringe.

Balls that have been injected with dye.

Dried hanks that have been injected with dye

Dilution method - involves diluting the original
dye bath by 50% and repeating this twice more
inorder to achieve successively lighter colour.

Jane Deane's dried hanks when she used the
dilution method with the madder dye.

Painted hanks are
placed on a sheet
of cling film.

The hanks are covered with cling film
and the edges sealed and
steamed for 45 minutes.

The tops have been dyed with annatto,
cutch waste and red lac, washed,
rinsed and now waiting to dry.

Space dyeing - the dyes are placed on the fibres.

The fibres are wrapped in cling film, ready
to be "squashed" before placing in the steamer.

The fibres are steamed for 45 minutes.

The fibres have been cooled, washed, rinsed,
and dried, and now are ready to spin.

Alison has spaced dyed two sets of merino fibres using purple lac and rhubarb.

Mary Stearn has space dyed
some Blue Face Leicester wool
with teal and dhak.

Mary has spun and plied her Blue Face Leicester with silk to knit these very attractive socks.