Botanische Kleuren/Botanical Colors
Natural dyes for sale: You can order any of the natural dyes listed below by filling out the form or calling me. After payment has been deposited in my account, orders will be sent our within 3 days from day of reciept of funds. Shipping costs are not included in prices listed below. Delivery is via normal post and is usually received within 2 days.
Biologique Indigo
Bio Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) is among the oldest dyes to be used for textile dyeing and printing. Indigo is a challenging dye because it is not soluble in water. To be dissolved, it must undergo a chemical change (reduction). The primary use for indigo is as a dye for cotton yarn, which is mainly for the production of denim for blue jeans. On average, a pair of blue jean trousers requires 3 – 12 g of indigo. Small amounts are used for dyeing wool and silk. There are two primary processes for vat dyeing; a chemical process that uses soda ash and lye, and a completely natural fermentation vat. See the Botanische Kleuren info page for more detailed instruction.
Bio Indigo powder: (very potent) 50 g; € 8,00
Bio Indigo powder: (very potent) 50 g; € 8,00
Aquarelle Saxon Blue
Saxon blue was discovered in the mid-1700's but never really became as popular as indigo vat dyes because it apparently did not retain it's color fastness as well as the vat version. The new Aquarelle Saxon Blue dyes wool and silk without any need for a mordant, producing a striking greenish blue color, quit different from that of vatted indigo. Now the Saxon Blue color has been stabilized and is now lightfast and pH neutral. Using alum as a mordant might increase lightfastness and washfastness. Even though you do not get a deep dark blue as with an indigo vat, I love using this dye, first because of it's ease of use, and secondly, when I overdye my already naturally dyed yarns and fabrics with this dye, I get a beautiful range of colors. And I don't need to worry about having to dye my blues only in the summer when I put my indigo vat out. Use the pretreatment in if you don't want to mordant in alum. It is very concentrated.
Light blue 1%, medium-dark medium blue 3-5%
100ml/g; €22,00
VegiPlus Pretreatment: 250 ml/g; €13,75
Light blue 1%, medium-dark medium blue 3-5%
100ml/g; €22,00
VegiPlus Pretreatment: 250 ml/g; €13,75
Cochineal
Cochineal is one of the most concentrated dyes - a very small percentage is needed to dye deep shades of fuchsia to raspberry. Cochineal is pH sensitive, and it is possible to shift its color to scarlet with the addition of acid such as Cream of Tartar in the dyebath. It will give you reds with a tint of blue. If you live in an area with hard water, Cochineal will dye its brightest and deepest shades if you mordant and dye with rain water. It is best to pour a little warm water over the extract to make a thin paste, then add boiling water until dissolved.
Crimson: Cochineal 6%; Pink: Cream of Tartar 6%, Cochineal 1.7
Cochineal instects: 25 g; € 9,50
Cochineal extract: 25 g; € 28,50
Crimson: Cochineal 6%; Pink: Cream of Tartar 6%, Cochineal 1.7
Cochineal instects: 25 g; € 9,50
Cochineal extract: 25 g; € 28,50
Lac
Lac (Laccifer lacca)responds well to alum mordants yielding rich shades of crimson to pink and purple to burgundy. You will need a small amount of citric acid to use lac. Although the color of lac is close to her sister, cochineal, lac has a more ruby tint, casting a warmer glow, especially to silk fabric.
Deep Wine: Lac 6%
Lac extract: 100 g; € 21,00
Deep Wine: Lac 6%
Lac extract: 100 g; € 21,00
Madder/Meekrap
Madder (Rubia tinctoria or rubia cordifulia) is a distinctive red with a yellow based tint. It requires a long steep to completely dissolve in the dye bath. Never raise the temperature while dying with Madder above 80 C. Higher temperatures will brown out the color. Madder extract and roots develop to their deepest red color in hard water. The addition of 1-3% of calcium carbonate on the weight of the fiber will harden soft water to achieve red shade. Pour a little warm water over the extract to make a thin paste then add hot water until it is dissolved. If you add an acid to your dyebath, such as Cream of Tartar, you will create a soft orange with madder.
Madder extract: 50 g; € 13,50
Madder extract: 50 g; € 13,50
Brasiletto
Brasiletto (Haematoxylum campechianum) comes from the heartwood of the logwood species. It produces a bright red phenolic dye. This extract is very potent and very little is needed to produce a strong, beautiful bright red color.
Light to medium Red: <1% , Deep red: 2%
Brasiletto extract: 25 g; €12,10
Light to medium Red: <1% , Deep red: 2%
Brasiletto extract: 25 g; €12,10
Quebracho Red
Quebracho Red (Schinopsis quebracho-colorado) is harvested selectively from tree farms that participate in reforestation efforts, and our supplier has raised over half a million seedlings for replanting. Quebracho Red, heavy in tannin, can be used a base dye for overdyeing, or by itself. It has a lovely rose tint on a light brown, soft and compatible with many other natural dye colors.
Quebracho Rose: 8-10% Quebracho Red Mauve Rose: 3% Quebracho Red, left over dyebath of cochineal dyebath, or .5-1% cochineal extract (depending on the depth of mauve that you want).
Quebracho Red: 100 g; € 8,10
Quebracho Rose: 8-10% Quebracho Red Mauve Rose: 3% Quebracho Red, left over dyebath of cochineal dyebath, or .5-1% cochineal extract (depending on the depth of mauve that you want).
Quebracho Red: 100 g; € 8,10
Logwood Purple
Logwood Purple - Logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum) is a species of flowering in the legume family that is native to southern Mexico and northern Central America. Logwood was the most widely used dye by the 19th century, providing the sober blacks when used with iron of formal and mourning clothes. Logwood's lightfastness increases when you add iron. Pure logwood extract produces a true purple to deep black purple. Depending on the amount of iron that you use, you can create a logwood grey that can go all the way to a deep purple black.
Medium Purple: .5% Logwood Purple Dark Purple: .65% Logwood Purple
Medium Grey: .45% Logwood Purple, 1-2% Iron postbath Dark Grey: .62% Logwood Purple, 1-2% Iron postbath
Logwood extract: extract: 25 g; €12,10
Medium Purple: .5% Logwood Purple Dark Purple: .65% Logwood Purple
Medium Grey: .45% Logwood Purple, 1-2% Iron postbath Dark Grey: .62% Logwood Purple, 1-2% Iron postbath
Logwood extract: extract: 25 g; €12,10
Fustic
Fustic (Chlorophora tinctoria) Fustic colors silk and wool to luscious shades of burnt gold and is perfect for cotton as well. Keep the dye bath at no more than 75 C for silk and 85 C for wool and cotton or it will become dull and brownish.
Light: 1% Medium: 2,5% Very dark: 4%
Fustic liquid extract: 50 g, € 8,50
Light: 1% Medium: 2,5% Very dark: 4%
Fustic liquid extract: 50 g, € 8,50
Pomegranate Rind
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is extracted from the rinds of pomegranates, this dye yields a metalic gold yellow and requires 15-20% wof for a medium depth of shade.
Light: 1% Medium: 5% Dark: 7%
Pomegranate Rind: 100 g; € 7, 75
Light: 1% Medium: 5% Dark: 7%
Pomegranate Rind: 100 g; € 7, 75
Myrobalan
Myrobalan (Terminalia chebula) is known by many names: Chebulic Myrobalan, Haritaki, Harad, and many more. Myrobalan produces a wonderful butter yellow and can also produce greys.. This dye is extracted from the fruit of the tree. It is the secret base dye to obtain tourquoise when you overdye with indigo. It can be used as a mordant for cellulose fibers such as cotton or linen.
Light: 2% Medium: 5% Dark: 10%
Myrobalan extract: 100 g; € 7, 75
Light: 2% Medium: 5% Dark: 10%
Myrobalan extract: 100 g; € 7, 75
Cutch/Catechu
Cutch (Acacia catechu) also commonly called mimosa catechu, is light-fast and wash-fast, high in tannin, best on cellulose fibers (cotton, linen), wool and silk. Use as an over-dye for richer colors, especially with indigo for interesting dark grayed greens or mixed with logwood for a beautiful black on silk. The color becomes deeper after a 2 hour simmer. Mordant with alum and cream of tartar.
Light: 4% Medium: 6% Very dark: 12%
Cutch extract: 200 g; € 4,50
Light: 4% Medium: 6% Very dark: 12%
Cutch extract: 200 g; € 4,50