How to Create Natural Dyes for Wool

Color your raw wool in natural dyes made from herbs, flowers, berries, roots, leaves and bark that you collect yourself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Baskets
• Gardening Gloves
• Raw Wool
• Stoves
• Water
• Chef's Knives
• Cooking Pots
• Cutting Boards
• Kitchen Scales
• Oven Mitts
• Stirring Spoons
• Strainers

Gathering Materials

1. Gather fresh herb materials while at their peak. Dried herbs can be used, but will result in less brilliant colors.
2. Gather flowers for dyeing when they are coming into bloom.
3. Gather berries when they are ripe.
4. Harvest roots in the fall.
5. Collect leaves and bark in the spring.

Flowers, Fruits or Leaves

6. Chop leaves and fruits; separate flower petals.
7. Use 8 quarts of flowers, fruits or leaves to dye 1 pound of wool yarn.
8. Place in 4 to 4½ gallons of water.
9. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
10. Strain.

Roots, Nut Hulls and Bark

11. Chop roots; break up nut hulls and bark.
12. Use 1 pound of nut hulls, wood and bark per 1 pound of wool yarn.
13. Use ½ pound of roots per 1 pound of wool.
14. Soak nut hulls, wood and bark overnight in 2 gallons of water.
15. Strain and save the liquid.
16. Place roots in another 2 gallons of water.
17. Simmer for an hour.
18. Strain, and then add the saved liquid from Step 15.