Where do you get your dyes?

How long does it take?

Most of my dyes are currently sourced from Shepherd Textiles, a weaving and fiber arts studio based in Washington state. All dyes are 100% natural and free from any synthetic colorants or industrial chemicals. Many of the dyes I use are GOTS certified organic. Occasionally, I will dye special one-of-a-kind colorways using natural dye materials I have foraged or grown myself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your colorways repeatable?

Yes and no. I have a library of repeatable colorways that I have developed, and you can view my catalog of colorways here. These colorways are as close to repeatable as I can get them, which is to say that there may be very subtle variations between batches, as is true of all hand-dyed yarn. If you are concerned about color pooling, then I recommend alternating skeins in multi-skein projects. That said, experimentation and colorplay are two of the reasons I got into natural dyeing in the first place, so I will often offer colorways that are one-offs, accidents, or otherwise unrepeatable.

Generally speaking, it takes about a week to go from undyed skein to finished skein, though it varies depending on the colorway. The process to dye yarn naturally has several more steps than the process to dye yarn with synthetic or acid dyes. These steps usually include scouring, mordanting, dyeing, and rinsing but can also include multiple dye baths or afterbaths.

Will it fade?

It depends. Part of the beauty of natural dyes is that they change and age over time, developing the patina that gives natural materials that lived-in feeling. Some colors fade, others shift, while still others deepen. Every natural dye behaves a little differently, and some have a greater tendency to fade than others. 

Most of my colorways are dyed on yarn that has been mordanted. There are many different ways to mordant fiber in preparation for dyeing, but to speak generally, mordanting is a process whereby the fiber is prepared for dyeing by being treated with something that will help the dye bond to the fiber. This process improves lightfastness and colorfastness, but it does not mean that fading will not happen at all. Even industrial synthetic dyes can fade if exposed to harsh direct sunlight for long enough. If you are concerned about fading, then I recommend keeping your yarn out of direct sunlight.

Will it bleed?

I take care to rinse all my yarns thoroughly (sometimes with as many as 20+ rinses) until the water runs clear, but even thoroughly rinsed yarns can still bleed, so while it is uncommon, it is still possible. When washing, factors such as the temperature and pH of the water, the type of soap or detergent used, and any chemicals that may be present in the water from treated water sources can all impact a yarn’s tendency to bleed. Given all these factors, even commercially-dyed yarns sometimes bleed. For this reason, I recommend that you hand-wash projects made with my yarn in cold water with a gentle wool-wash.

What is crocking?

Crocking is a process whereby small particles of pigment are transferred from the dyed fiber to other surfaces due to friction and sometimes heat. If you’ve ever had a pair of jeans that bled onto other clothing, then you’ve experienced crocking. Crocking is most common with indigo-dyed fabric, but it can happen with other dyes as well. 

In my experience, crocking is fairly common when working with naturally-dyed yarns and almost inevitable with indigo even after being thoroughly rinsed. The darker the color, the greater is the likelihood of crocking. Just as it is recommended that you wash a new pair of jeans on its own for the first couple washes, so I recommend that you wash projects made with indigo dyed yarn separately. If you want to use indigo-dyed yarn in a project with other colors, then I recommend that the colors you pair it with are similarly saturated shades.