Aurora SilkNatural Dyes, Fabrics & Fibers
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Natural Dyes

Dyes

 
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Customer Comment

I just wanted to thank you and let you know that the Logwood I purchased from you was wonderful. This is the first time I have worked with natural dyes, and I must say from this experience forth, natural dyes will be the only thing I will use. Thank you for turning me on to the theraputic artistry of natural dyeing.
Best regards,
Shari Strmac, SewBlue, LLC

Natural dyes are dyestuffs made from plants, minerals, and in the case of cochineal, an insect. Here is our selection of the most colour-fast natural dyes available. Cheryl Kolander, who IS Aurora Silk, is the senior Natural Dyer in the world today.  38 years of professional, daily experience with these dyes has taught her the best: “And I only use the best, because my life as an artist is too precious to use anything but the best!”

The dyestuffs below are the “Major Dyes of Commerce”, dyes that have been used by silk and textile artists for thousands of years.  They are precious commodities and are increasingly rare.  Cheryl is constantly looking for new sources for these dyes, and encouraging increased production of the finest grades of these quality dyes.

All dyestuffs are “raw material”.  The dye must be extracted by boiling in water.  The cloth must be prepared to accept the dye by the use of a pre-mordant.  Please see Tutorial on Natural Dyeing if you are new to the process.

To order the dye you want, please click on the dye name.

Indigo
The natural blue (no mordant needed)

Cochineal
The fabled cultivated scale insect that yields SCARLET, CRIMSON, PLUMS AND LAVENDERS on silk and wool.

Lac
Reds, pinks, plums and lavenders.

Logwood
An easy PURPLE  and the deepest BLACK.

Madder
RED, ORANGE, CORAL and WINE

Munjeet (Indian Madder)
Reds, oranges and burgundy. This madder is a much higher quality than normal madder and the colours are more vibrant.

Catechu (Cutch)
The brown dye used in Indonesian textiles

Brazilwood
Reds and pinks

Osage Orange
Bright Yellows

Fustic
Golds

Weld
Yellows

Ratanjali (Sandalwood)
BRONZE

Tannic Acid (or Tannin)
Beige base for cotton dyeing and block printing or painting with Iron

Quercitron
Bright yellows, rich golds

Other Dyestuff

Annatto (Bixa)
Orange-red dye that is oil soluble - use for candles

 

Cheryl is searching for new sources for quality prepared extracts, (especially as these are needed for colours to be dyed with machine assist in the United States.)  Meanwhile she recommends the home and art dyer purchase the quality raw dyestuffs we offer and make concentrated extracts by boiling carefully in a minimum of water.