Natural dyes         click here

Types of textile suitable for natural dyeing          click here

Application of natural dyes      click here

Natural Dyes:

Natural dyes are known for their beautiful and multiple shapes. The natural dye system offers the dyer each of use. Natural dyes are non-toxic and highly concentrated. They should not be ingested or come into contact with eyes or skin.

Some well known ancient dyes are described below:

1 ) Madder:

This is the freshly root of the madder plant ( Rubia, Tinctorum ) . Source are red, orange, peach and rust shades. It can be used for 0.5 to 5 % shade on the weight of fibre.

2 ) Indigo:

Blue indigo from Indigofera finctoria yellow from stigmas o the saffrom plant and dogwood and extract of the dogwood tree ( Indian and Pales time origin)

3 ) Tyrian purple:

Noted in the Bible, a dye obtained from the spiny dye mixture shellfish.

4 ) Osage:

Wood of osage bush, source of yellow and ochre. It can be applied from 0.1% to 2% on the weight of fibre.

5 ) Cochineal:

A bright red called cochineal was obtained from an insect nature to Mexico. All produce high quality dark colors.

6 ) Cutch:

This is the heartwood of the tree source of browns. To yield a darker brown the fabric must be oxidize at the last step 2-5% shade can be produced.

Types of textile suitable for natural dyeing :

Natural dyes can be used on most of the textile material, but level of fastness and clarify of color varies considerable. Natural dyes have strong affinity to fibres of animal origin. Natural dyeing of certain plant based textiles can be less successfully than theie animal equivalent.

The equivalents needed for home dyeing ang very small scale commercial dueing with natural dyes are:

        i.            Mordanting and dyeing pans

      ii.            Head source

    iii.            Pestal and mortar

    iv.            Timing rods

      v.            Thermometer

    vi.            Measuring jugs

  vii.            Storage containers

viii.            Plastic bowl and buckets

    ix.            Weight scales

      x.            Protective equipment

Natural dye fall into the following categories:

1.      Leaves or stems

2.      Twigs and pruning

3.      Flower heads

4.      Barks

5.      Roots

6.      Outer skins and husks

7.      Heartwood and wood shaving

8.      Berries and seeds

Application of natural dyes:

Dyeing can be carried out at any of the following stages in the textile manufacturing stage:

        i.            The fibres can be dyed before they are spun. Fibre dyeing provide a deep penetration of the dye into the fibre, giving even color and excellent color fastness.

      ii.            The yarn can be dryed after spinning

    iii.            Fabric can be dryed (piece Dueing). In cross dyeing(one stage blend dyeing) fabrics od two or more fibres can also be dryed so that each fibre accepts a different color, through the use of appropriate dye for each fibre.

    iv.            It is essential for the correct identification of the fibre or fabric to be made before drying starts.