Essential Toolkit

Everything you need to begin with natural dyes today!

So I have been thinking about what to put on this journal entry for a while…. and to be really honest I never seem to have any time at all to do anything! Anyone else or just me?

I think it would be best to just talk you through what I started with and hopefully it will inspire you to do some further research into your own natural dye process. Beginners only really need a source of water and heat, a dye pot, the dye stuff and the natural fibres, skeins of yarn, or fabrics to be dyed.

I collected a electric hob and lots of other essentials from a second hand shop. The electric hob(1) is my heat source and is big enough to hold my aluminium or stainless steel dye pots(2). But any camping stove or electric hob would be fine to use for a beginner as long as it can hold at least 14 - 18 litres of liquid. Never use any hobs or areas where food is prepared! I always dye fabrics outdoors…..Be careful!

If you use collected rain water(3)….. like I do….. when dying remember to test the waters PH(4) first to check the acidity or alkalinity of the water. This really effects your outcome of colour! (more on colour changes/modifiers later………)

You will need plenty of old pots(5), pans, bowls(6) and buckets(7) for mordanting, dying and modifying colours. Old food containers and glass jars(8) are fab for storing left over dye liquids to reuse. Stainless steel tongs(9) and long handled spoons(10) are perfect for stirring, lifting and turning fabrics. Kitchen scales(11) are essential for weighing fabric and dye stuffs to calculate the amount of dye to use. Old oven gloves and rubber gloves(12) are also needed for protecting your hands, an apron(13) to protect your clothing and I would suggest that when using alum mordant(14) that you wear a mask and mix it all in a well ventilated area away from children or animals.

Lastly, write all your projects down in a journal(15) to identify different mordants and dying processes. Be clear with fabric weights, amounts of dye, types of fabric, mordant types and ph level of water. Highlight timings of fabric dye soak, scour timings, mordant timings or bundle dye steam times and remember which ones work and which ones you need to adjust. But most of all have fun experimenting (Safely) with all the colours (16) nature provides!

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes they are how you learn! (17) Sometimes my best dye work on fabric has been completely accidental and that is what makes natural dying so magical.

Essential Toolkit -

1. Electric hob or camping stove - heat source

2. Stainless steel or aluminium dye pot

3. Water source

4. PH indicators

5. Old pots and pans

6. Bowls

7. Buckets

8. Old food containers or glass jars

9. Tongs

10. Spoons

11. Kitchen scales

12. Oven gloves and rubber gloves

13. Apron

14. Mordant

15. Journal

16. Natural dyes (The most essential!)

17. Bravery and patience :)

Let the fun begin!