Dyeing materials with plants is an ancient art practiced since biblical times. There are many plant materials that can be used for dyeing yarns and materials: roots, bark, leaves, berries, seeds, twigs, branches, tubers, and nuthulls, each capable of producing a range of colors with various mordants and yarns. In addition, when properly applied, natural dyes are fast, resisting fading due to exposure to sunlight.
Although there are many recipes for natural dyes, this experiment will only be concerned with a simple recipe for the preparation of a dye bath and the use or mordants to provide a variation in colors.
Mordants are chemical additives that sometimes help a fiber accept a dye that it might otherwise reject. (The word mordant comes from the Latin "morders" which means "to bite") Some of the more common mordants are listed in the table below.
Although you will be doing this process as a laboratory exercise, it is, not necessary to work in a laboratory or with highly technical equipment to do natural dyeing. You can easily work on a kitchen range, household-type hot plate or even an open fire and get equally good results. Remember to use soft water and utensils made of glass, stainless steel or enamel in order to get true colors. Don't forget to protect your hands with rubber gloves to prevent dye stains and to prevent excessive exposure to mordants.
Safety Precautions
Disposal
Materials Needed
Procedure
Preparation of dye bath
Preparing the cloth for dyeing
Dyeing the Cloth
For your laboratory report, compare the colors obtained with the different mordants and materials.
References
Natural Plant Dyeing, A Handbook, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, N.Y. (May be out of print. Contact Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11225, or www.bbg.org on the Internet)
Natural Dyes: Plants and Processes, Jack Kramer, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, N.Y., 1972
If you are interested in trying some natural dyeing at home, consult the above books or check your local library or book store. Also check online at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com
About the Author:
The author is associated with Department of Chemistry, Pima Community College, USA.
Originally Published at:
http://www.chymist.com/Natural%20dyes.pdf
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