Natural Yarn Dyes

Create a rainbow of vibrant natural yarn dyes using 25 sustainable, tried-and-tested recipes.

Achieve rich, lightfast colours from plants, lichen and fungi without compromising safety or the environment.

If you've ever dreamed of creating vibrant, natural and completely unique yarn shades for your knitting, crochet or weaving projects, then look no further. Natural dyeing is a wonderful blend of colour, chemistry, craft and nature. Here, expert authors Anna Bauer and Eva Zethraeus share with you 25 easy-to-follow recipes for a rich palette of yarn dyes, from the juicy reds of beetroot and vibrant yellows of onion to the shimmering pinks, purples and blues of red cabbage.

Whether you're a beginner looking for a comprehensive guide to dyeing yarn, or an experienced dyer looking for new recipes and inspiration, this book will equip you with everything you need to get dyeing, along with invaluable tips and insights. Inside you’ll find:

• 25 dye recipes from readily available plants, fungi and lichen, which produce a stunning palette of shades.
• Clear instructions: each tried-and-tested recipe is detailed and easy to follow and takes you from start to finish, from making your dyebath to using mordants for fixing colour.
• A sustainable approach: learn how to maximize the potential of your dye materials, plus practical advice on aftercare to ensure that your yarns remain as beautiful and vivid as the day they were dyed.
• A comprehensive introduction for first-time dyers: equip yourself with the right tools and techniques for successful dyeing, including collecting plant materials, fixing your colours and essential safety tips.
• Guidance for further reading: packed with a glossary and references for further reading, this is your all-in-one resource for mastering the art of botanical dyeing.
• Bonus content online: two knitting patterns designed by the authors, and applying the practices illustrated in this book, will be available on the Bookmarked Hub: www.bookmarkedhub.com

This book is an invitation to create unique, sustainable, vibrant yarn dyes that honour the environment and showcase your creativity.

Book Contents

The hunt for sustainable colours

BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Myths about dyeing with plants
Picking and collecting
Environment and safety
About the yarn
Washing fastness
Lightfastness
Equipment
Parameters affecting colour
The dyeing process
Things to bear in mind for successful dyeing
Preparations
Mordanting
Natural mordants

DYE RECIPES
Natural dyes
Mordant dyeing
Vat dyeing

DYEING WITH PLANTS
Madder
Beetroot
Plum
Yellow onion
Birch
Red onion
Tansy
Golden marguerite
Goldenrod
Rhubarb
Heather
Dyer’s weed (weld)
Eucalyptus
Common reed
Brazilwood
Logwood
Red cabbage
Walnut
Indigo

DYEING WITH FUNGI
Surprise webcap mushroom
Velvet roll rim mushroom
Scaly tooth fungus
Sulphur tuft

DYEING WITH LICHENS
Rock tripe
Crottle
Next steps
Using the same dyebath more than once and overdyeing
Afterbaths
Care

Glossary
References
Further reading
List of illustrations
Our thanks to