PLANT DYES
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:04 pm
Can anyone tell me what woad- (ISATIS TINCTORIA) LOOKS LIKE AND WHERE I COULD GET IT FROM.want to dye some things 
This is what it looks like
Seeds from Nicky's Nursery - £1.25 a packet.
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PLANT DYES
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:41 pm
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:53 pm
Hi Grock,
Woad is very easy to grow, (and the bees love it) but if you use it as a natural dye in the normal way you will get a green rather than a blue dye. I use it to dye wool that I have spun, and with a tin or alum mordant it gives a lovely soft green colour. If you want blue dye (like the Ancient Brits) you have to mess about with fermenting it and all sorts of faffing about - I'm not sure of the exact procedure but I know it is quite tricky. Best of luck!
Lyn
Woad is very easy to grow, (and the bees love it) but if you use it as a natural dye in the normal way you will get a green rather than a blue dye. I use it to dye wool that I have spun, and with a tin or alum mordant it gives a lovely soft green colour. If you want blue dye (like the Ancient Brits) you have to mess about with fermenting it and all sorts of faffing about - I'm not sure of the exact procedure but I know it is quite tricky. Best of luck!
Lyn
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:52 am
In the Monty Don programme some years ago where he visited some Birmingham allotments there was a lady who grew various plant for their dyes... I actually saw her giving demonstrations of the processes in The Garden Show at the NEC the following year
Now if anyone still has a copy of that show...it may well help you
Now if anyone still has a copy of that show...it may well help you
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:33 pm
Thanks for the replies guys,u r all sooo nice.Alan i will try the place you mention 
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:00 pm
The allotments you mentioned is Walsall Rd. Allotments Birmingham, the Lady's who dyes name is Teresinha Roberts. info@wildcolours.co.uk,
The web site is www.growit.ik.com
hope this help's you.
Bren
The web site is www.growit.ik.com
hope this help's you.
Bren
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:02 pm
Bren....that's fantastic....what a mine of information you are...that was the lady I had in mind
Thanks for the links too
Thanks for the links too
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:03 am
Hi Grock,
I grow woad from seed each year, bought from Chilterns Seeds in Ulverston, but this year had self-saved seed.
I also dye wool and it's not so difficult to get blue from woad, just a bit involved. But if you've got a spare afternoon and the right chemical (Spectralite from Fibrecrafts) it's quite fascinating to watch the wool emerge from the dye bath pale yellow and then magically turn blue as it oxygenates.
If you would like instructions I can send them to you.
Chris
I grow woad from seed each year, bought from Chilterns Seeds in Ulverston, but this year had self-saved seed.
I also dye wool and it's not so difficult to get blue from woad, just a bit involved. But if you've got a spare afternoon and the right chemical (Spectralite from Fibrecrafts) it's quite fascinating to watch the wool emerge from the dye bath pale yellow and then magically turn blue as it oxygenates.
If you would like instructions I can send them to you.
Chris