Dyeing Fabric with Culinary Herbs

(Page 2 of 5)

August/September 2004
By Susan M. Strawn 
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Rosemary for Dyeing

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Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has earned a favored place in many herb gardens and contains particles that function as natural dyes.

This exemplary dye plant thrives outdoors as a tall shrub that produces aromatic sprigs year-round in Zone 8 gardens. If you don’t have it growing in the garden, purchase rosemary as a culinary herb from grocery stores or a farmer’s market.

While many dye plants alone produce only yellow dyes, mordants extend these color possibilities. The following four steps will create a range of six harmonious shades from buttery cream to golden yellow to olive green — all from rosemary. You may try your hand with other herbs in the process, as well.

Colors may vary depending on the season and condition of the rosemary when harvested.

Materials

Fresh rosemary (about five 6-inch sprigs or more, depending on quantity of fabric or yarn)
Wool yarn or fabric (single ball of yarn wound into small skeins or 1 yard of fabric)
Distilled water
Powder detergent
Alum (aluminum sulfate)
Household ammonia
Iron nails (preferably horseshoe nails available at farm and ranch supply stores or from a farrier) or iron pot designated for dye use only
Scale (weight in ounces and/or grams)
Stainless-steel pan (designate this pan for dyeing only)
Culinary thermometer (for dye use only)
Paper tags with strings
Garden pruning shears
Stainless-steel or plastic strainer (for dye use only)
Paper towels/drying rack or flat surface
Stainless-steel bowl (for dye use only)
Paper and pencil to record weights and measures
Kitchen timer
Wooden spoon or tongs (for dye use only)
Canning jars for free-form method (for dye use only)

Free-form dyeing is quick, simple and the perfect way to experiment with natural dyeing.

Read the instructions before you begin to understand the time and materials required for each step of the dyeing process.

1. Scouring
Scouring removes from commercial yarn and fabric any grease or chemical residue that can interfere with the dyeing process. First, heat distilled water to 110 degrees in a stainless-steel pan. Stir in a pinch of powder detergent. Immerse fabric or yarn in the warm water and stir gently. Before immersing wool yarn, wind it into small skeins to prevent tangling. Remove fiber and rinse in room-temperature distilled water. At this stage, you can either allow the fiber to dry or you can continue to Step 2.

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