Natural Dyeing Kit// Dye your own skein of Canadian Raised Wool
Explore the magic of natural dyeing with plants and minerals with this kit.Choose from marigold yellow, madder red/pink, indigo blue, or cochineal fuschia, and dye a skein of Canadian raised sheep's wool.
Each kit contains:
- 100g of Canadian raised wool
- dried natural dye
- alum mordant
- step by step instructions
- indigo dyed cotton project bag
You will need a spare pot, cup or jar (for mixing the dye powders), and spoon or tongs that you can devote to dyeing. Even plant dyes are not always food safe, so separate pots and utensils are an essential part of the dyers toolkit. Some people also prefer to use gloves and an apron to avoid staining your hands or clothes.
Depending on how dark you dye your wool, you may have colour left in your dye vat, so you can experiment with dyeing other natural fibres!
Marigold Kit: 15g, $32
Marigolds are a wonderful companion plant in any vegetable garden, and also naturally dye in a beautiful range of yellows, golds, and browns. Also includes 15g alum mordant.
Madder Root Kit: 15g, $32
Madder root produces a gorgeous array of reds, oranges, corals and pinks on natural fibres. One of the oldest sources of red dye, and native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, madder was once widely cultivated to make the coveted colour red. Also includes 15g alum mordant.
Cochineal Kit: 10g, $41
Cochineal was one of the first ever sources of red dye. The cochineal insect is native to Mexico and Central America, and in the 16th century became one of the world's most valuable commodities! It was so rare and expensive that only nobility could afford wear it- yet even so, some countries created laws to prevent lower classes from wearing royal reds and purple. Also includes 15g alum mordant.
Indigo Kit: 10g, $46
Indigo dye has been used around the world for many centuries, as it's one of the few plant based sources of blue. With a bit of coaxing (to make the blue pigment water soluble), indigo plants can make a wonderful range from pale sky blue to the deepest navy. Fibre natural dyed with indigo tend to have some "rub off" of colour. It's not at all harmful and will wash off your hands, but may stain wooden needles. Kit also includes 20g thiourea dioxide and 30g soda ash.
