Does anyone have a dye garden?

[Two_Sheds]

Mordants

My concern is ..how do you make a natural dye colour-fast?

Most natural dyes need mordant to make a permanent (fast) colour.* Ancient dyers used urine, wood ash or oak galls but the easiest method today is to use chemicals such as alum, chrome, copper, iron, vinegar, salt, soda, and cream of tartar.

Different dyes and different fabrics need different mordants. It really is something to study: you can't just bung it in a bowl like Dylon. It's great fun though. Nature's Subtle Palette: Rosemarie Smith

* except pomegranate skin, which contains its own mordant.

[Seahorse]

I used this one at college. £3.35 on amazon:Amazon.co.uk: The Craft of Natural Dyeing: Jenny Dean: Books

Ker-ching! Thanks T_S

[Nicos]

You've got me interested now folks!!!!

[JennieAtkinson]

There is a very good Shetland Dye Book using plants which grow here (and one would assume grow everywhere else!). Just turned the craft room upside down but I can't locate it at the moment!

I haven't actually grown anything for dyeing, but I have used plants growing around the loch here to dye wool which I then spin. Not done anything with it yet though! Waiting for artistic inspriration.

It really is something I wish I did more of, lack of time as usual.

I will keep looking for the book!