Natural dyes have accompanied weavers since at least 5000BC.  They have colored both ceremonial cloth and everyday wear all over the world.  There has been great espionage to try and find out dyers secret recipes, because, although some colors come easily, many do not yield their secrets readily, but need much magic and cajoling to bring the fullest color to fruition.

      I use Earthues natural dyes.  These dyes are powdered extracts of plant roots, bark and leaves as well as an insect. By using Earthues natural dye extracts I am able to blend colors together in a way that was almost impossible when I used the whole plant.  Earthues also has a commitment to the Earth and to the Farmers, guaranteeing fair prices and sustainable farming practices.

     The dyes I use most frequently are Madder root – the source of the ancient Turkey Red that was kept a secret for generations (dyers who told others of the 12 –step process were put to death), Cochineal – a scale insect that lives on cactus plants in Central and South America, that also gives red but by a much easier process and so destroyed some of the power of Turkey Red and Indigo – which is derived from several plants that are fermented and than dried.  Indigo takes some complicated chemical steps before it is able to be used as a dye.  In previous times this was accomplished by bacterial agents and took up to a month to prepare.  I am happy to say I can usually get an indigo bath ready in about an hour’s time, although sometimes it eludes me for hours.