Among the lesser-used yet historically significant mordants in the natural dye world is tin, most commonly in the form of stannous...

This year, that feeling hit me in rural France. We were surrounded by goldenrod swaying in the breeze, alder trees lining the riverbanks,...

Of all the mordants we reach for in the dye studio, copper sulfate is perhaps the most quietly transformative. It is not as commonly used...

We do like the effect that ferrous sulfate gives with our tannin-rich leaves: gray and black leaves, often very distinguished with...

Some plants store alum naturally in their leaves. That means they can help you fix color to fiber without  adding extra mordant salts....

When it comes to iron in natural dyeing, we often lump “iron” into a single category. But not all iron is equal, and the kind you use...

This chapter focuses exclusively on alum-based mordants : Potassium Alum, Aluminum Acetate, Aluminum Triformate and Alum-Soda Ash...

For centuries, the precise nature of the Biblical tekhelet , the sacred blue mentioned in the Torah, remained an enigma. In the Book of...

Discover the rare Japanese dye murasaki, extracted from Lithospermum erythrorhizon roots. Learn its rich history, cold-extraction method, and how to achieve stunning purples on silk and wool.

all the terms you ever needed to know.

Let’s demystify mordants. They sound scary, but they’re not. A mordant is just a substance, usually a metallic salt, that helps natural...

If natural dyes are your paints, then ferrous sulfate is one of your most versatile brushes. Reliable, powerful, sometimes unpredictable,...

When I teach abroad, I ask for the venue to arrange my basic dye kitchen: A heat source, which can be a gas burner, electrical hot plate...

There comes a moment in every dyer’s journey when we stop chasing the perfect earthy pink and instead lean into something moodier: grey....

Skipping the Alum: When Tannin Does the Heavy Lifting Let’s say you’re standing in front of your dye pot, and for whatever reason,you're...

Hot or Cold? It Depends on What You Want. Tannins will be able to create wonderful subtle shades on their own or as a base for further...

If you’ve ever steeped pomegranate peels, stirred oak gall powder into a bucket, or layered sumac leaves into a tannin bath:...

Ever found a lovely piece of fabric and thought, “This feels natural... probably”? Welcome to the detective work of fiber identification. Whether you're prepping for a dye bath or just trying to avoid melting something under your iron, knowing what you're working with is half the battle. In this post, we’ll cover simple at-home tests—from burn to bleach—and offer some real-world tips (label your stuff!) to help you stay sane in the studio.

Reflections on Gutau’s Blaudruck-Fest, always the first Sunday in May On the first Sunday in May the small Mühlviertel village of Gutau...

mud dyeing techniques from timor leste

Workshops should be spaces of creativity, learning, and respect—places where we can focus fully on the art of natural dyeing and printing...

Organic indigo vats explored!

I love to be inspired by what is around me. When I let the dogs out in the (very) early morning, I witness the morning mist creating...

a year in natural dyes and pictures, take a look at the best moments for DekelDyes in 2024!