March and April Dye Recipes
Email your own dye recipes to info@newyorktextilelab.com and we will publish them here!
Catmint
Plant Collected: Cat Mint
Date Collected: April 1, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: The whole plant (stems and budding flowers)
Extraction process notes: Cut plant at base put in pot with enough water to cover the plant material. Simmer on low for 30 minutes.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Shetland wool 5g
Dye/volume: 2.5 cups
Mordant/amount: Alum (15% WOF)
Additions: 1tsp iron
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Add iron. Simmer for 30 minutes. Let the fiber sit in the dye bath for 3 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Cilantro and Rosemary
Plant Collected: Cilantro and Rosemary
Date Collected: March 5, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 1 bunch of rosemary and one bunch of cilantro (whole plants used)
Extraction process notes: Put Cilantro in pot with enough water to cover the plant material. Raise to a boil and simmer for 1 hr. Add rosemary and simmer for another hour. Let cool. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Cotton/ 27g
Dye/volume: 6 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant the cotton in alum on low heat for 1hr, using enough water to cover the material. Rinse and place in dye. Let the cotton sit in the dye bath for 2 hrs at a low simmer. Rinse until water runs clear.
Daffodils
Plant Collected: Daffodils
Date Collected: March 16th, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 38 flower heads
Extraction process notes: Simmer flower heads in 6 cups of water for 2hrs and 15 minutes. Let cool. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: 1oz skein of Shetland wool
Dye/volume: 6 cups
Mordant/amount: 1tsp alum
Additions: 3tbsp of vinegar and 1 tsp of cream of tartar
Recipe notes: Mordant wool in alum for 1hr with 5 cups of water on low heat. Rinse and place in dye. Simmer on low heat for 2 ½ hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Daisies
Plant Collected: Daisies
Date Collected: April 30, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flowers- Enough to fill ½ 16 qt pot.
Extraction process notes: Fill with enough water to cover the plant material. Boiled for 10 seconds. Lower heat and simmer for 1 hr. Let cool. Strain
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Alpaca wool 7g
Dye/volume: 1 cups
Mordant/amount: alum 1g
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Simmer for ½ hr on med heat. Cool for ½ hr. Rinse until water runs clear.
Forsythia 1
Plant Collected: Forsythia
Date Collected: April 1, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flower head
Extraction process notes: Pick flowers off of stems and put in pot with enough water to cover the plant material. Slowly bring to a boil. Heat on low simmer on low for 1hr.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Merino wool 5g
Dye/volume: 3 cups
Mordant/amount: Alum (15% WOF)
Additions: 1tsp tannin
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Add tannin. Simmer for 30 min. Add tannin. Let the fiber sit in the dye bath for 8 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Forsythia 2
Plant Collected: Forsythia
Date Collected: April 1, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flower head
Extraction process notes:
Pick flowers off of stems and put in pot with enough water to cover the plant material. Slowly bring to a boil. Heat on low simmer on low for 1hr.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Merino wool 5g
Dye/volume: 3 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)
Additions: 1/8 tsp iron
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Add iron. Simmer for 30 min. Add iron. Let the fiber sit in the dye bath for 8 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Forsythia 3
Plant Collected: Forsythia
Date Collected: April 1, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flower head
Extraction process notes:
Pick flowers off of stems and put in pot with enough water to cover the plant material. Slowly bring to a boil. Heat on low simmer on low for 1hr.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Merino wool 5g
Dye/volume: 3 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)
Additions: 1/8 tsp iron
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Add iron. Simmer for 30 min. Add washing soda (soda ash). Let the fiber sit in the dye bath for 8 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Lavender
Plant Collected: Lavender
Date Collected: March 12, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flower buds
Extraction process notes: Pick off buds and put into a pot. Add 5 cups of water. Slowly bring to a boil and simmer for 1 ½ hrs. Let cool.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Shetland wool 6g
Dye/volume: 5 cups
Mordant/amount: Alum (15% WOF)
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Soak fiber in alum for 2 hrs after bringing to a simmer for 30 min. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Simmer for 5 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Magnolia
Plant Collected: Magnolia
Date Collected: March 26th, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 2 cups of ½” long chopped branches
Extraction process notes:
Harvested just before buds flowered. Cut branches into ½” pieces and boil in 6 cps of water for 3hrs. Let sit overnight. Let cool. Strain the dye material form the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: 1oz skein of Shetland wool
Dye/volume: 5 cups
Mordant/amount: 1tsp Iron
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant wool in iron for 1 ½ hrs with 5 cups of water on low heat. Rinse and place in dye. Simmer on low heat for 2hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Peach Blossom 1
Plant Collected: Peach Blossom
Date Collected: 03/02/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Buds and branches- 570 grams
Extraction process notes: Broken into 2” lengths- Simmered at 160 degrees for 3 hrs-cooled for 14 hrs
Material/ WOF: 10 grams of Icelandic wool fleece
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions:
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath at 160 degrees for 30 minutes. Let it cool and soak in dye for 48 hrs. Rinse
Peach Blossoms 2
Plant Collected: Peach blossoms
Date Collected: April 30, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flowers- Enough to fill ½ 16 qt pot.
Extraction process notes: Fill with enough water to cover the plant material. Simmer for 2 hrs. Let cool for an hour. Strain
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Alpaca wool 7g
Dye/volume: 6 cups
Mordant/amount: alum 1g
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Simmer for ½ hr on med heat. Cool for ½ hr. Rinse until water runs clear.
Purple Carrots 1
Plant Collected: Purple Carrots
Date Collected: 03/4/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Peels- 320 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 170 degrees for 20 minutes
Material/ WOF: 50 grams of Icelandic 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 170 degrees for 1hr. Let it cool and soak in dye for 24 hrs. Rinse
Purple Carrots 2
Plant Collected: Purple Carrots
Date Collected: 03/11/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Peels- 250 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 170 degrees for 20 minutes
Material/ WOF: 10 grams of Cotswold wool fleece
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath at 170 degrees for 30 minutes. Let it cool and soak in dye for 4 days. Rinse
Pussy Willow 1
Plant Collected: Pussy Willow
Date Collected: 03/04/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Buds and branches- 400 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 180 degrees for 2 hrs-cooled for 2 hrs
Material/ WOF: 20 grams of Icelandic wool fleece
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions: 4 grams of tartar
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath at 170 degrees for 1 hr. Let it cool cool for 12 hrs. Rinse
Pussy Willow 2
Plant Collected: Pussy Willow
Date Collected: April 6, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 2 cups of ½” long chopped branches
Extraction process notes: Cut branches into 1” pieces and boil in 10 cps of water for 7hrs. Let sit overnight. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: 1.25 oz of merino wool
Dye/volume: 5 cups
Mordant/amount: 1tsp Iron
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant wool in iron for 1 hr with 5 cups of water on low heat. Rinse and place in dye. Simmer on low heat for 7hrs. Let fiber sit in dye bath and slowly cool for 15 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Pussy Willow 3
Plant Collected: Pussy Willow
Date Collected: 03/04/2013
Part of plant used and amount: Buds and branches- 400 grams
Extraction process notes: Simmered at 180 degrees for 2 hrs-cooled for 2 hrs
Material/ WOF: 20 grams of Icelandic wool fleece
Dye/volume: Enough dye to submerge fiber
Mordant/amount: Alum at 15%
Additions: 4 grams of tartar
Recipe notes: Heated up fiber in dye bath at 170 degrees for 1 hr. Let it cool cool for 12 hrs. Rinse
Pussy Willow 4
Plant Collected: Pussy Willow
Date Collected: April 6, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 2 cups of ½” long chopped branches
Extraction process notes: Cut branches into 1” pieces and boil in 10 cps of water for 7hrs. Let sit overnight. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: 1.25 oz of merino wool
Dye/volume: 5 cups
Mordant/amount: 1tsp alum
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant wool in alum for 1.5 hr with 5 cups of water on low heat. Rinse and place in dye. Simmer on low heat for 3hrs. Let fiber sit in dye bath and slowly cool for 10 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.
Tiger Lily
Plant Collected: Tiger Lily
Date Collected: April 16, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flower head
Extraction process notes:
Used 32 g of flowers. Pick flowers off of stems and put in pot with enough water to cover the plant material
Slowly bring to a boil. Heat on low simmer for 15 minutes. Let sit for 2 hrs. Strain
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Merino wool 7g
Dye/volume: 3 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)= 2-1/2 g of alum
Additions: none
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Simmer for 1 hr. Cool. Let the fiber sit in the dye bath overnight. Rinse until water runs clear.
Red and Yellow Onion Skins
Plant Collected: Red and Yellow Onion Skins
Date Collected: March 5, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 1 shopping bag full of skins/ ¾ yellow skins and ¼ red skins.
Extraction process notes: Raise to a boil and simmer for 1 hr. Let cool. Used enough water to cover the skins. . Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Silk/ 3g
Dye/volume: 5 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)
Additions: Citric acid (squeeze of lemon)
Recipe notes: Mordant the silk in alum for I hr on low heat. Use enough water to cover the fiber so it moves freely in the bath. Rinse and place in dye. Let the silk sit in the dye bath for 1 hr at a low simmer. Rinse until water runs clear. Squeeze lemon on fiber. Let dry and then rinse again.
Spinach
Plant Collected: Spinach
Date Collected: March 5, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 1 large bunch/stems and leaves
Extraction process notes: Raise to a boil simmer for 2 hrs. Let cool. Used enough water to cover the plant material. Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Cotton/ 17g
Dye/volume: 5 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant the cotton in alum with enough water so the fiber moves freely in the bath. Rinse and place in dye. Let the cotton sit in the dye bath for 2 hrs at a low simmer. Rinse until water runs clear.
Yellow Onion Skins
Plant Collected: Yellow Onion Skins
Date Collected: March 5, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: 1 shopping bag full of skins
Extraction process notes:
Raise to a boil simmer for 1 hr. Let cool. Use enough water to cover the skins. . Strain the dye material from the plant material.
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Wool 8g
Dye/volume: 5 cups
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)
Additions: None
Recipe notes: Mordant the wool in alum for 1hr on low heat using enough water so fiber moves freely in bath. Rinse and place in dye. Let the wool sit in the dye bath for 1 ½ hrs at a low simmer. Rinse until water runs clear.
Zinnia
Plant Collected: Zinnia
Date Collected: April 23, 2011
Part of plant used and amount: Flower head/ 4yellow, 2 pink, 2 red-orange
Extraction process notes: Used 10 g of flowers. Pick flowers off of stems and put in pot with enough water to cover the plant material
Slowly bring to a boil. Turn off heat and let cool . Let sit for 2 hrs. Strain
Dye Recipe
Material/ WOF: Merino wool 1g
Dye/volume: 1 cup
Mordant/amount: alum (15% WOF)= 1g of alum
Additions: none
Recipe notes: Simmer fiber in alum for 1 hr and let cool. Rinse fiber and add to the dye bath. Simmer for 1 hr. Cool. Let the fiber cool for 2 hrs. Rinse until water runs clear.