Dye Project

How do we make natural dyes?
We can use plants, animals and minerals



Photo:
Spinach leaves
Red Onion skins
Hematite -mineral (Iron(III)Oxide
Red Cabbage
Marigold

Marigolds and Red Cabbage simmering
in crockpots

3 different Koolaids ( Not natural dye), but is an example of a dye substance that contains its own mordant, citric acid.

Pot on the right is red onion skins.






Red Cabbage juice in test tubes















Many household products can be used as mordants ( a substance that helps "fix" the dye to the fiber)

The household products can also produce color changes in the red cabbage.

Red Cabbage juice can be used as an Acid-Base indicator.

Red onion skins with tin chloride and cream of tartar as the mordant.

Kool-aid results

Turmeric- a spice from India, is an example of dye substance that does not need a mordant.   The spice is from the root of the plant.
















Spinach with its bright green leaves, you think it would make a better dye, but because chorophyll b is more soluble than chlorophyll a, a yellow color is produced. Chorophyll b is yellow.







 

                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                           

 Wool, handspun and hand-dyed hanging to dry.