Natural Dye Basics: Mordanting

I almost always mordant my yarn before I dye with plants, flowers or mushrooms. Mordanting your yarn before dyeing helps the dye stick to your fiber, improving color and light-fastness.

Learning how to mordant your wool fiber is a basic skill every natural dyer should learn. In this video I show you my go-to method for using alum as a mordant.

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Update: New Mordanting video!
Learn how to mordant plant fibers!

Update: New written instructions!

Brand new to dyeing? Watch this first:
----Preparing your Yarn

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[augustbinderybespokeatelie]

Aloe vera makes a wonderful mordant for natural dyes. I could list a few papers with all of the details if you'd be interested.

[farinaceaclover]

I have been using commercial dyes for decades. I wanted to start using natural plant dyes but mordanting has been a mystery to me. You simplified it! Thank you for this video.

[JzMillinery]

This is so helpful! I’m going to try it with an upcycled sweater top I made from cashmere. I’m at a textile artists’ residency in Iceland and want to try dyeing with lupin flowers.

[MorriganShay]

I don't have a big enough pot to do two skeins at once. When one is done and out, can I then just add the second skein to the water, or should I make a completely new batch of mordent water?

[nicolewulff]

Hi! I'm excited to have found your channel while looking for something to do with my carrot tops as I'd read somewhere they can be used to create a natural dye. I am very interested in creating and using natural dyes and ecoprinting is fascinating and I have a lot to learn still. I have a large garden as a source of botanical materials. I see this process for mordanting in the video is based on working with animal fiber. Do you have one for working with plant fibers?

[gamerpandey]

It was really difficult to find a mardant which is non toxic thanks for the can we use sodium carbonate, citric acid or other alternatives (that are easily available) with alum ?

[Rosegarden-]

Very helpful thank you! You also have such a lovely energy - a pleasure to listen too. :)

[neeko]

Do you know where I can find the extra steps for dyeing plant fiber? I will be dyeing linen yarn with madder and logwood.

[leaf]

THANK YOU for making this knowledge accessible and understandable!

[darinasa]

forbidden spaghetti. Thank you for the video!

[staciejean]

Thank you for this video! Im new to working with wool. I'd like to know if you want to make a dye stock to save for later, if you only have a very small amount of wool to dye, do you add the alum and cream of tartar to the water at the same time as the dye and then just save what you don't use in a jar?

[amara]

Thank you for a very approachable, beginner video!

[cyndidaves]

Hi Myra.... I left you a couple of Questions in other videos of yours and I addressed you as "Rebecca". I thought you announced yourself as Rebecca, I guess I need to wash my ears out... teee heee ;+) Sorry about giving you a new name ;>]

[pamela]

Not sure if you will read this because this video is 3 years old but just wanted to tell you, you look very beautiful :)

[Maria-skrl]

I have solid alum pieces with me. Do i need to powder it before using it to mordant? If so, is there any specific way to powder it, like should I heat it or something?

[ChristinaMyers]

can you do one for plant fibers please? :)

[Sans-nxcx]

After mordanting do I need to wait for the yarn to dry to begin dyeing it?
Could the yarn go straight from the pot of mordant to a pot of dye?

[mongrain]

Would using the alum mordant on a already dyed wool yarn with logwood, help stop the bleeding ? If so, do you have to heat the water or just let the dyed yarn soak in the water mixed with alum ?

[rando]

helloo,

is it also good for dyeing cotton fabrics??

[sarahhastings-rudolf]

So helpful - thank you! Also is it weird to ask where you got your t-shirt? So cool.