Who has used natural dyes for yarn?

[3_opihi]

I really want to try and dye some yarn naturally, but I'm afraid it won't work right and I'll end up wasting a bunch of it.

Has anyone actually tried it? I'm thinking of using carrot tops for a soft orange, onion skins for a soft yellow, and beets? for a soft pink. Would that work? What kind of onion do I use? I'm assuming a yellow one.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I've done it, and you need a LOT of onion skins to get a decent color. I saved mine for about 3 weeks, and we eat onions often, LOL. Beets work well and are easy, I've used the juice from a can of beats with a big glug of vinegar and got a nice pink.

[3_opihi]

Hmmm...so its probably like flowers, where I need the same amount in ounces as the yarn.

It's hibiscus season here. Do you think a yellow hibiscus would work? (or red for that matter)

[BinahYeteirah]

bs"d

Do you have to use mordant for wool natural dying?

I dyed some yarn using onion skins and marigolds a long time ago, but I had to use a mordant. It must have been cotton yarn, but I don't remember anymore.

[3_opihi]

Yeah, you do have to use a mordant. But you can use alum, from the grocery store.

[rubidoux]

Ooooh. I think I'm gonna have to try the beets. So, just beet juice and vinegar and heat it up like you would if you were using kool aid?

I have some grey, natural, and heathered grey from full belly farms. I'm sure it would look great on the natural, but what do ya think about the greys?

J.

[BinahYeteirah]

bs"d

Maybe beet on grey would just look more dull. Don't know...

[3_opihi]

I can't say either, but I think it would end up being a darker, richer color. I would use alum instead of a vinegar mordant. I think there are instructions for it in the patterns and tutorials section.

I found a great website here that explains it pretty well.