Dyeplants and Wildflowers - All Fiber Arts

Natural Dye Plants

International Mushroom Dye Symposium
Mushroom dye workshops, lichen dyes.

Dye Books
Our bookstore has some good books on working with natural dyes.

Beets
Dyeing with Beets - Beta vulgaris - are fun to experiment with in your kitchen. Although not very colourfast, they will produce shades of rust/red or tan colours.

How to Dye with Beets

Dyed Easter Eggs and Beets

Bloodroot
Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis, can be used to dye reds, pinks, and orange colours.
How to Dye with Bloodroot

Boletopsis grisea
The Boletopsis grisea mushroom can produce lovely green and olive shades of colour.

Burdock Root
Burdock Root - Arctium lappa produces a yellow dye, and also has medicinal properties.

Clematis
The Clematis is not only lovely and fragrant, but its leaves also make a yellow dye for wool yarn.

Cochineal
A how to recipe for dyeing with Cochineal.

Coreopsis
The blossoms of the Coreopsis can be used to make yellow and orange dye.

Cortinarius Semisanguineus
The Cortinarius Semisanguineus mushroom produces oranges, pinks and reds.

Hapilopilus rutilans
The fungi Hapilopilus rutilans gives mauve and purple colours.

Hemp Dogbane
The inner fibre of Hemp Dogbane - Apocynum cannabinum, was used by the First Nations for spinning into twine, and rope.

Hollyhocks
Hollyhock blossoms give various shades of pinks, reds, mauves and tan colours depending on the colour of the blossoms and the mordants used. It's stalks can also be used for making paper.

Indigo - Saxon Blue
Directions for dyeing with Saxon Blue, a pre-mixed Indigo solution.

Lady's Bedstraw
Lady's Bedstraw - Galium Verum, produces reds and yellows. It is also used for cheese rennet and medicines.

Phaeolus schweinitzii
The Phaeolus schweinitzii fungi gives yellow and gold colours.

Pisolithus arhizus
The Pisolithus arhizus puffball mushroom produces rich browns and gold colours.

Red Cedar
Many tree barks will produce a dye, including the Western Red Cedar.

Rhododendron
Rhododendron leaves will produce yellows, oranges and shades of green, depending on the mordants used.

Rhubarb Root Dye
A recipe for dyeing with rhubarb roots to make yellow, orange or red shades.

Russett Buffalo Berry
The fruit of the Russett Buffalo Berry or Soapberry - Shepherdia canadensis produces a red dye.

Strawberry Blite
Strawberry Blite - Chenopodium capitatum, grows as a common weed. Both the fruit and the entire plant can be used for dye to produce pinks and red colours.

Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff - Galium Odoratum gives reds and yellows. It is also used for medicines, teas and wines.

White Bedstraw
The roots of White Bedstraw yield pink and red colours.

Yarrow
Yarrow - Achillea is used for yellow, tan and green dye colours.