Natural Dye and Medicinal Plant Group

This month we will explore the dye potential of fruit trees either apple or anything in the Prunus species: cherry, plum, peach, almond or apricot. We will try both bark (which gives more interesting colors: pinks and purples) and leaves (mostly yellows). If you have access to bark from windfall or twigs then trim the bark from the twig or limb and strip off the outer bark and save the inner bark which will give clearer colors. Soak the inner bark in water ideally for at least a week. Tree bark does not need a mordant because of the tannin present. We will have small samples of cotton, linen, silk and wool. If you want to dye your own fiber bring that along as well.

Looking forward to exploring color with you.