Botanical Dyes

09/05/2023

The sweet fragrance of woad wafting in the breeze. great for the early pollinators.

09/05/2023

Indigo update
They are growing well I have pinched out the growing tips so that they fill out rather than grow lanky. Nice strong roots now too not sure if I will need to pot up before the greenhouse comes we will see

01/05/2023

Spring is late this year in fife it’s always a welcome sight to see the woad that produced colour last year flower now. Such a bright yellow heralding the start of the dye growing season good and proper

19/04/2023

Lovely to see such strong madder popping through these are root cuttings from last year’s harvest
Top tip grow in pots as they spread like crazy and it’s easier to harvest from pots too

17/04/2023

After 1 week my indigo seeds from natures rainbow have germinated well on a heat mat initially. I used root training reusable growing system that I usually use for the madder as it has a lid to keep moisture in at this early stage. I’m so pleased with their vigour so far and so looking forward to using fresh indigo this summer.
I am now going to pot them up. Im using biodegradable pots essentially paper pulp from B+Ms I got 80+ for £4 I think definitely more affordable than the local garden chain so shop around these will be planted straight into the ground in the new greenhouse in a month or so when its built ! And the little roots will be well established in the john Inness seed and young plant compost I have used the package says its enough feed for 5 weeks so alls good. A good windowsill will also be perfect or conservatory and in the summer a good sunny spot will be suffice after the last frost but Im going to pop in the greenhouse.
There is some debate whether to pot individually or as some blogs say to pot as a clump to help them thrive. Well I have potted and labeled individually all 180+ so we will see I do have some left after putting a call out for local folks to share my bounty so I will pot them ’as a clump’ and see.

07/04/2023

This is madder dye plant seeds and chopped dried roots and then the historic red dyed wool.
The darkest colour is the first dying then i exhausted the pot to make a lovely harmonious tone.
To start off your madder dye seeds its best to soak overnight some folks even rough up with fine sandpaper but ive always soaked.
Top tip ive found is to sow into those root trainer kits you can buy with the lid they are super easy to open and transfer when you see plenty of roots growing later on in the season then wash and reuse next year.
You will have to wait till year 2 to get good root stock from your madder enough to dye a fair amount. I think I dyed 10kg of wool from 3 plants but the books say weight for weight but I think thats just for deep shades and Ive found I like the lighter tones too
The plants die back completely and re emerge in the spring here in scotland
Oh and I grow in deep pots as they spread like billio

06/04/2023

Inspiring book how to scale up your woad growing grab it if you can

This Digital Drawings & Illustrations item by BoffinBeads has 27 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from United Kingdom. Listed on 21 Mar, 2023

06/04/2023

A lovely read

Discover indigo; one of the most mystical yet widely used dyes in the world. Featuring inspirational images and presented with a luxurious exposed and patterned

06/04/2023

A useful little book

Vegetable Dyes: A Book of Recipes and Information Useful to the Dyer by Mairet, Ethel M. at AbeBooks.co.uk - ISBN 10: 0557000416 - ISBN 13: 9780557000418 - lulu.com - 2008 - Softcover

06/04/2023

Another good resource book

This guide serves as a tool to explain the general principles of natural dyeing, and to help dyers to become more accomplished at their craft through an increas

06/04/2023

Always my go to book and has been for years. Thank you Jenny Dean. Mines a bit the worse for wear with plenty stains but I wouldn’t be without it

Buy Wild Colour: How to Make and Use Natural Dyes By Jenny Dean. Available in used condition with free delivery in the UK. ISBN: 9781784725532. ISBN-10: 1784725536

06/04/2023

Please share any good natural dye seed merchants you’ve found thanks jan