January and February Dye Recipes

September & October

November & December

side note: most materials need to be treated before the dye process for more information

Email your own dye recipes to info@newyorktextilelab.com and we will publish them here!

Carrot Tops 1

Plant Collected: Carrot Top
Date Collected: 02/19/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Carrot Tops- 220 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 160 degrees for 2 hrs
Material/ WOF: 100 grams of Merino wool yarn
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath at 180 degrees for 20 minutes. Let it cool cool for 12 hrs. Rinse

Carrot Tops 2

Plant Collected: Carrot Tops
Date Collected: Feb 26, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 3 bunches of carrots
Extraction process notes: Boil for 1 ½ hrs with enough water to cover the plant material. The dye will look murky. . Strain the dye material from the plant material.

Dye Recipe

Material/ WOF: Shetland wool /1 skein – 1oz
Dye/volume: ¼ gallon
Mordant/amount: 1tsp alum
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant the wool in alum for 1hr on low heat. Use enough water so fiber moves freely in bath. Rinse and place in dye. Simmer for 2 hrs. Let cool. Rinse until water runs clear. The dye gave very little color in the beginning, but after a while gave a bright, light color.

Carrot Tops 3

Plant Collected: Carrot Tops
Date Collected: 02/26/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Tops- 60 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool for 8 hrs
Material/ WOF: 50 grams of Cormo wool fleece
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions: 2 grams of iron
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath with iron at 180 degrees for ½ hr. Let it cool and soak in dye for 5 hrs. Rinse

Cilantro

Plant Collected: Cilantro

Date Collected: Feb 12, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: The whole plant. (56g)
Extraction process notes:
Simmer for four hours in enough water to cover the plant material. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Wool 7g/ Cotton 16g
Dye/volume: 4 ½ cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF) for wool/ tannin (10% WOF) for cotton

Additions: Cream of Tartar 1 tbsp
Recipe notes:
Mordant the fiber for 1 hr using enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath. Rinse and put in dye. Add cream of tartar. Leave the material in the dye bath for 14 hrs heating it up in between for 2hrs at a low simmer. Let cool. Rinse until water runs clear.

Mint Leaves

Plant Collected: Mint leaves
Date Collected: Feb 25, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 3 small bunches
Extraction process notes: ¼ gallon of water with the mint. Heat for 2hrs. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Shetland wool 1 skein – 1oz
Dye/volume: ¼ gallon
Mordant/amount: 1tsp iron

Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant the wool in iron for 1 hr using enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath. Rinse and put in dye. Simmer for 1 hr. Let cool. Rinse until water runs clear.

Onion Skins 1

Plant Collected: Onion Skins
Date Collected: Feb 11, 2011

Part of plant used and amount: Skins/ about ½ shopping bag full
Extraction process notes:Boil skins for 2 ½ hrs in a stainless pot with ½ gal of water. Yields a very dark orangecolor to dye with.
Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Shetland wool skein 1oz.
Dye/volume: ¼ gallon
Mordant/amount: Iron/ 1tsp
Additions: None
Recipe notes:Mordant the wool in alum for 1 hr using enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath.Rinse and put in dye. Skein heated in dye for 1 ½ hrs. Turned skein from an orange color(from Iron mordant) to a dark brown which didn’t fade at all after thorough rinsing.

Onion Skins 3

Plant Collected: Onion Skins
Date Collected: 02/22/2013

Part of plant used and amount: Tops- 40 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 170 degrees for 30 minutes. Let cool for 8 hrs
Material/ WOF: 50 grams of Icelandic wool fleece
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions: 2 grams of tartar
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath with tartar at 170 degrees for 1 hr. Let it cool and soak in dye for 24 hrs. Rinse

Onion Skins 2

Plant Collected: Onion Skins
Date Collected: Feb 11, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Skins/ about ½ shopping bag full
Extraction process notes: Boil skins for 2 ½ hrs in a stainless pot with ½ gal of water. Yields a very dark orange color to dye with. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Shetland wool skein 1oz.
Dye/volume: ¼ gallon
Mordant/amount: 1tsp alum
Additions: 2 tbsp of vinegar

Recipe notes: Mordant the wool in alum for 1 hr using enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath. Rinse and put in dye. Heat in dye for 2 hrs. After 1hr add vinegar and it will brighten the color significantly. Let cool. Rinse until water runs clear.

Rosemary 1

Plant Collected: Rosemary
Date Collected: Feb 12, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: The whole plant (18g)
Extraction process notes:
Simmer for four hours and let cool before using the dye. Use enough water to cover the plant material. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Wool 4.5g/ Cotton 4.5g
Dye/volume: 3 ½ cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF) for wool/ tannin (10%WOF) for cotton
Additions: ½ tsp iron
Recipe notes: Mordant the fiber for 1 hr using enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath. Rinse and put in dye. Heat the material in the dye bath for 2 hrs. Let cool. Rinse until water runs clear.

Rosemary 2

Plant Collected: Rosemary

Date Collected: 02/17/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Leaves used- 160 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 180 degrees for 3 ½ hrs
Material/ WOF: 115 grams of Icelandic wool yarn
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. Let it cool cool overnight. Rinse

Sage

Plant Collected: Sage
Date Collected: Feb 13, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: The whole plant- 1 medium sized bunch.
Extraction process notes: Simmer for four hours. Use enough water to cover the plant material. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Wool 4g/ Cotton 4g
Dye/volume: 3 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF) for wool/ tannin (10% WOF) for cotton
Additions: ½ tsp iron
Recipe notes: Mordant the fiber for 1 hr using enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath. Rinse. Put fiber in the dye bath when it is warm. Heat the material in the dye bath for 2 hrs. Let cool for 14 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.

Spinach

Plant Collected: Spinach
Date Collected: Feb 21, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Leaves/ ½ a shopping bag
Extraction process notes: Boil for 2 ½ hours. Use enough water to cover the plant material. Should use more spinach for a deeper hue. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Shetland wool 1 skein – 1oz
Dye/volume: ¼ gallon
Mordant/amount: 1tsp iron and ½ tsp soda ash
Additions: 3 tbsp vinegar
Recipe notes: Mordant the wool in iron and soda ash for 1 hr using enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath. Rinse and place in dye. Simmer for 2 hrs. The yarn turns beige with the iron mordant. 3 tbsp of vinegar is added and simmered for 3 more hrs. Let cool. Rinse until water runs clear.