Wild Colours - Exciting colours from Natural Dyes
Wild Colours natural dyes > red dyes > dyeing with brazilwood
Fig 1. Different colours with varying amounts of brazilwood (using ¾ teaspoon of chalk):
[L-R] 5%; 20%; 50% sappanwood (to weight of fibre = wt.%)
Fig 2. Varying colours with different amounts of chalk (using 20% sappanwood):
[L-R] no chalk; pinch of chalk; ¾ teaspoon of chalk
Fig 3. Colours with no chalk & chalk added afterwards:-
[L-R] no chalk; chalk added after
* Note: I recommend using a plastic sieve rather than a metal one because brazilwood reacts quickly with any traces of rust that may be present on a metal sieve.
1) Soaking and boiling the brazilwood
Put the brazilwood powder in a saucepan, cover with boiling water and leave overnight.
The following day, boil the powder in the water for two or three hours and leave it at least overnight, longer if possible.
If you are in a hurry, it is OK to boil the brazilwood for an hour and just let it cool first before straining and using it. However, you will probably get better colours if you leave it for a while.
2) Straining the brazilwood
You need to strain the brazilwood powder before adding the fibre. I found that the best material for straining is a square of silk chiffon. Place the silk chiffon over a sieve and carefully pour the contents of the saucepan through the sieve, saving the liquid.
If you are using brazilwood chips, you must remove them before adding the fibre as the chips have small barbs that attach themselves to the fibre and would have to be carefully picked off one by one. To remove the chips pour the contents of the saucepan through a plastic sieve, saving the liquid. (You can also save the chips by spreading them out to dry, as they can be reused several times.)
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Updated on 22 April 2024
Website & photos by Mike Roberts ©2006-24 Wild Colours natural dyes