Dyeing with madder, Rubia tinctorum, has been a magical adventure for me.
It is magical because madder offers a colour palette from
light to dark orange, red, burgundy, pink to dark pink.
depending on a acidic or a alcali-basic dye bath
which will give different shades.
(Orenburg silk mohair)
Poll Dorset yarn, dyed with madder
left : acidic dye bath - right basic dye bath
Orenburg silk mohair, lace merino,
even the wall was painted with madder
You can use vegetal dyes for other purposes too.
This orange wall was painted with madder
here's the recipe
100 grams madder powder
100 grams fine wood ash
20 grams soap flakes
50 grams beeswax
Put the madder and the wood ash with water in a pan
Warm up till just before boiling
Filter this liquid in a cloth mesh
add the soap and the beeswax, mix well
keep this mixture warm in bain-marie,
don’t let it boil !
when everything is well mixed you can used this mixture
lukewarm to paint the wall
the next day you can polish it with a soft cloth
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