Organic Dyes and Colours

Why Natural Dyes? | About our dyes | Are natural dyes for you? | Prices

Are Natural Dyes For You?

People are sometimes disappointed in their experience of natural dyed materials. So do take time to consider the following points:

Natural dyes do need a little extra care; they need to be washed with the absolute minimum of detergent – one formulated for wool. Fulling may alter the colour. Maybe don't use these yarns for an item that will need lots of washing eg socks. Wool is very good at shaking off dirt and smells if hung somewhere airy (but not sunny).

The colours are more sensitive to light - not recommended for items exposed to lots of sunlight. Reds, purples and the grey and brown shades are the fastest, yellows the least fast and greens in between. Yellows lose their clarity after a while, mellowing to cream and sand shades, although some may darken.

Colour reproduction and eveness: there are many variations, including the different spinning lots of the wool. Whilst we take great care with our dyeing, this is handwork on a small scale. There will be some variations within the yarn and between dyelots.

So – if you look for uniformity, ease of care and long stability of the colours, or if the item you are planning will have a hard life, then synthetic dyes will probably suit better. If you are planning something unique, and taking that extra bit of care is not a consideration then these colours may well be just right.