Madder
1 - 100g jar of Madder Natural Dye Extract
40g of Madder extract will dye approximately 500 grams (1.1 pounds) of fiber to a dark shade
Want to know the facts behind our extracts? Find more info here.
How to dye? Find our step by step guide here.
Madder – Madder (Rubia tinctorum) is one of the oldest and most frequently used traditional dyestuffs known to man. It has extensive history in Turkey, India and Iran where it is still being used for dyeing knotted and woven carpets. The secret for Turkey red, a deep rich red color, was guarded for centuries throughout Central Asia. In addition, it involved more than twenty steps to create this prized shade. Our madder extract will produce pale pink and peach shades all the way through a deep, wine-colored red.
Madder is found in different forms: Rubia tinctorum in Central Asia and the Middle East, Rubia cordifolia in India and Pakistan, Rubia peregrina (Wild Madder). In Japan, madder is called akane and refers to Rubia cordifolia, which was obtained through trade with India. Lady’s Bedstraw, a common member of the Rubia family, was used for stuffing mattresses and its roots yield a lighter red dye.
Madder extract dyes to its deepest colors with an alum mordant and the addition of calcium carbonate (chalk). If you add a mild acid to your dyebath, such as Cream of Tartar, you will create a soft orange shade.