four pink mini skeins of yarn and some white and pink flowers

Natural Dyeing With Cochineal

Today I want to take you along on an experiment of natural dyeing with cochineal. Overall, cochineal is one of my favorite dyestuffs to use due to its versatility and straightforwardness. And it creates the most vibrant shades of pinks. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you use these …

view of a forest in summer

Tannins as Natural Mordants

Tannins or tannoids are a type of mordant that naturally occur in plants. If you are dyeing protein (e.g. wool) or cellulose (e.g. cotton) fibers with natural dyes, you need a mordant or fixative to help set the dye on the fiber. The mordant forms a coordination complex with the dye which attaches to the …