The Ancient red. It takes a minimum of three years to bring this red root to maturity. Best grown in a large pot rather than directly in the soil, unless you enjoying digging.
Madder is known as an invasive plant with prolific tiny yellow flowers which later mature into thousands of berries. Click here to grow your own from madder seeds
Shades of red, orange and pink, can be acquired from the ground roots of the madder plant, depending on which way you chase the ph, up in alkalinity or down in acidity.
For the purpose of ease Madder root is chopped while fresh, dried and then ground into fine powder, making less work for those who wish to make a madder paste for direct application.
To extract colour place powder in pan and bring to a gentle simmer for 30mins-1hr.
Strain the madder water through a fine muslin to remove any particles so that colour is not imparted with spotting on chosen fabric - (unless spotting is what you require)
Return liquid to dye bath saucepan and warm through adding your chosen fibre.
To boil Madder is to create brown, so gently coax colour into your fibre at a moderate temperature and do not turn the saucepan in a bubbling cauldron! Unless of course you want a red brown?
Keep items in dye pot moving for the fist hour so as to ensure there are no air bubbles, and so dye takes up evenly. Allow your goods to sit for 12-24 hours, stirring occasionally, depending on the depth of colour required.
Apply to protein or plant fibres.
Quantity required depends on the weight of fabric (WOF) and can range from 30%-100% depending on the weight and fabric type.
50g & 100g packs available.
Grown & prepared, in Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK
