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Wood Chip Dyeing

© Lili Pintea-Reed

by Lili Pintea-Reed

Many sorts of woods provide chips and saw dust which can used in dyeing. Some of the most commonly available are Fustic, Brazilwood, Cutch, Logwood, and Osage Orange.

Fustic is the heartwood of the tropical tree morus tinctora. It produces a range of yellow colors and can be used to over-dye indigo to produce green.

Brazilwood produces a lovely red and redish purple tones. It comes from the Caesalpina echinata tree.

Cutch come from a type of acacia tree. It makes very fast browns and tans on protein and celluose fibers.

Logwood, another tropical wood, is the hearwood of another tropical tree Haematoxylum campecechianum. It produces lovely shades of blues and purple, however, it is not reliably light fast.

Osage Orange (surprise!!) growns in the temperate regions and was used as a hedge tree in American farm country. Its bark produces nice yellows and oranges without use of mordants. A handy tree indeed!

Soak the bark or chips over night to soften and release the dyes, then simmer below a boil for an hour or so to produce more color. Strain and place fiber into the pot. According to *COLORS FROM NATURE* by Bobbie McRae recommends drying the chips and pieces for re-use.

Have fun dyeing with wood.

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