Tag: Alder

Alder Dyed Silk

Plant dye
Neat little Alder cones – produce a dark brown dye stuff

Alder cones fall off the tree in strong winds and are found in the grass all year. Newer cones side by side on twig-branches are green and hard. Store the brown, small, but perfectly formed, cones in boxes.

The Dye Process

Alder cones, leaves and twigs, removed from dye pot with silk result

To make dye bath – Use cones, twigs and leaves together, soaked for a week in mixing bowl sized water container. The water will go dark brown. Boil up then simmer for 1-2 hours: check water level remains. Remove dye stuff.

Add silk to dye bath – only when liquid temperature has lowered to hand hot. Never boil silk. Stir frequently for even dye coverage and leave overnight to finish absorption. In many cases, colour become deeper, the longer left.

  • After dye bath use
  • Silk after soaking overnight
Silk dyed results with Alder – a very useful creamy beige background to paint on.

So many natural dyestuffs produce a range of creams and beige, fawn and gold tones; all very different. All neutral tones provide an excellent background for silk painting. The Ahimsa peace silk or Habotai silk takes up any natural dye nicely.

Garments made using this silk sample will be added here during making and completion…