My name is Hunter, and I have been learning the craft of natural dyeing since August, 2020. I have always been a creative individual, constantly seeking new ways to express myself. I have a background working with many mediums, such as inks, watercolors, paints, leather, food and more!

So why natural dyeing?

I have been working at a health food grocery store for a year now, causing me to have an appreciation for the sustainability and health benefits of natural ingredients. This inspired me to search for a craft that can both allow me to contribute to a creative community, and use eco-friendly ingredients with minimal waste. Before long I was introduced to natural dyeing! I instantly had a strong connection with this craft. Starting out with some ingredients I had around the house, including berries and turmeric, I was amazed by the vibrance of the colors these ingredients produced!
Not only are natural dyes absolutely beautiful, they are biodegradable and sustainable!

What do I make?

At the moment, I am dyeing cotton for use by other crafters. This includes 1/2 yards and fat quarters. I am working towards creating products of my own as well, such as beeswax wraps, face masks, cotton napkins, and tapestries!
Every batch of dye is unique and I aim to make every individual product unique. I encourage this by creating tie dyes! This can be done with a variety of techniques involving various resists, Eco prints, and color combinations. Like I said, I constantly seek new ways to express my creativity, so expect new designs frequently!

My Process

I want to supply the best quality products I am able to, so I start the dye process by mordanting the fabric. This step usually means binding the fiber with a metal or tannin which I get from either gallnut, alum, or iron. This step prepares the fabric for taking dye, which allows for better color absorption and fastness.

Then I prepare the dye(s)! there are many methods for extracting the color from your ingredients but the one I use most frequently involves simmering your dyestuff until all dye is extracted, then simmering the remaining liquid into a concentrate! I have also experimented with with eco printing which skips the dye making process by placing the ingredients directly onto the fabric and pulling the color from them with steam.

The dyeing process is slightly different every time, but the general rundown involves soaking the fabric in the dye solution 1-3 times then heat setting the dye before rinsing and a final wash with pH neutral soap.