NATURAL DYES

COLOR                                                           MATERIAL

Yellow                          Goldenrod, sassafras flower, pomegranate rinds, yellow

                                    onion skins, willow tree leaves, marigolds, orange peels,

                                    white grapes (pale yellow), carrot tops, turmeric

Yellow-orange              Vanilla extract

Yellow-green                Daffodil blossoms

Orange                         Dandelions, onion peels

Rusty Orange               Orris root, cayenne pepper, paprika

Red                              Cherries, birch bark (gathered from the ground only),

                                    madder root

Rose                            Willow bark (gathered from the ground only), beets,

                                    heather

Pinkish Blue                  Iris blossoms

Purple                          Blackberries, elderberries, beets, mulberries

Blue                             Red cabbage leaves, sunflower seeds, blueberries, black

                                    raspberries

Green                           Carrot tops, grass clippings, spinach, moss, bracken, red

                                    onion skins, kale, parsley

Tan                              Walnut shells, tea leaves, instant coffee, onion skins

            Making the dyes requires only the fresh ingredients cut or torn into small pieces (about 1 cup) and place them in a large pot with enough water to just cover the material.  Boil the mixture for 5-20 minutes depending on the depth of color you desire.  Strain the mixture into a cut-down plastic jug through cheesecloth or a pair of pantyhose.  Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to act as the mordant (setting, keeping the color).  Reheat the dye and place in the item to be dyed (eggshells).  Naturally, these colors will vary in intensity with the length of time the eggshells are left in.  The longer an item is left in the dye, the brighter the color.  The dye water may be frozen for use later.

 

Carlson, Laurie.  EcoArt.  1993: Williamson Publishing, Charlotte, VT. 157 pages

 

McCoy, Edain. Ostara: Customs, Spells, & Rituals for the Rites of Spring. 2002: Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN. 198 pages

 

Starhawk; Baker, Diane; Hill, Anne. Circle Round: Raising Children in GoddessTraditions. 1998: Bantam Books, New York, NY. 439 pages

Research and writing by Galadrial