anyone dye fabric? mordant question.

[Proudmomoftwinsplusone]

i just dyed several silk scarves with natural dyes from dharma trading. they are so beautiful. but i was wondering if i could get a wider range of color with the dyes if i use different mordants. i used alum and cream of tartar. if i use just one or the other, do you think the color would come out differently?

[flapjack]

Yes, and the colour will take differently depending on the batch of dyes you use, the water, the heat- it's so subjective. I have the Craft of Natural Dyeing by Jenny Dean, but there are many other books out there on the subject. You can make various additions, like iron, to change the colour too.
Don't forget that you can overdye to get the colour you want as well, so there's a lot of flexibility. I say "the colour you want", but one of the things I love about natural dyes is that they are so unpredictable...

[Proudmomoftwinsplusone]

well, i tried using just alum and then vinegar to the dyebath, but the color was only slightly different. i will have to experiment a bit more. what dyes have you used helen?

[sunanthem]

I dye silks, but I use lanaset dyes. One way I get varied colors is to dye one batch, then dye a second batch in the same dye pot, which will make the
2nd's a much lighter shade. Also, could you mix your dyes for new colors?

[flapjack]

I've used nettles. elderberries, blackberries, dried calendula, logwood and madder so far. What I found is that with the blackberries, the colour changed a lot when I added salt, and with the nettles I got a completely different colour- and a much nicer one- when I dropped a couple of nails in. They are so very unpredictable though: I keep meaning to try the natural extracts, but haven't got round to it yet.

[Proudmomoftwinsplusone]

I plan to try mixing dyes to get new colors. i will let you know how it works.

i did try blueberries and got a light lavender. i dont know where to find those other plants. i guess i could find blackberry at the grocery store.

[Proudmomoftwinsplusone]

Helen, i tried turmeric and it is vibrant gold yellow. i love it!