HOW DO I NATURAL DYE?
QI read somewhere about natural dyeing and I’d love to give it a try. Can you tell me how is it di erent than normal dyeing and where should I start?
Margaret Ogg, via Facebook
Of course! Natural dyeing is a fun, sustainable hobby, and you can create beautiful and unique yarns very easily. There are two common methods to naturally dye yarn – the traditional method with a specific dye pan, heat and ideally a dedicated space to work. The other method is with a solar dye jar. This simply means you dye your yarn or fibre in a large jar and use UV light to help the alum (a naturally occurring mineral which is safe to use) mordant fix and bind the colours to the yarn.
The yarn skein is placed in a Kilner-type jar in layers with dried dye in between. The alum mordant is then mixed with water and poured into the jar. The yarn and dye absorb the mordant solution and it works its magic to fix the colour to the yarn. The jar needs daylight (indoors on a window ledge or outdoors on the patio or doorstep). Leave the jar for at least three months and at the end of this time your yarn will be dyed! It then needs rinsing in tepid water to get rid of the dye bits and excess dye, then when it is dry it is ready for use. Late spring is the ideal time to start a solar jar so it will be ready in the e autumn for a cosy project. This method can be used on any protein fibre, yarn or fabric, so why not put a few silk ribbons or felted wool in the jar too? Gorgeous Yarns sells a selection of solar dye kits, ready to use, and runs zoom workshops so you can learn this and other dye techniques. We also sell pouches of dyes, mordants and undyed yarns. Shop the range at www.gorgeousyarns.co.uk or follow us on Facebook @gorgeousyarns.co.uk and Instagram @gorgeousyarns. Caroline