Did you know that you can dye fabric and yarn from tree bark, heartwood, leaves, cones, and acorns?

Trees are loaded with natural tannins, which means they make fabulous dyes. You can use any of the below tree parts to dye fabric or yarn, as long as the fiber is 90% or more natural (meaning not synthetic). This includes cotton, linen, silk, wool, and any other natural plant or animal fiber.

A few things to keep in mind. To achieve lasting and vibrant color, most dyes will require a mordant (this is the pre-fixative step you do before dyeing). Though many dyes from trees can achieve color without a mordant. Also, be sure to use a pot and stirring tools reserved only for dyeing, not cooking. Many plants are toxic when ingested, so pick up some pots and tools from your local second hand shop and reserve them only for dyeing. The only exception is if you are dyeing with coffee, onion skins, or tea, that will be fine in your kitchen pot (but not with a mordant). 

*Do not remove bark from a living tree, instead seek out fallen branches, tree trimmings, and/or wood chips from cut down trees. 

Alright, let's get into some of the trees that you can dye with (this list is not exhaustive).

Tree Dyes:

Eucalyptus

Elder

Birch

Elm

Mahonia

Sumac

Fruit Trees

Oak

Alder

Hawthorn

Willow

Juniper

Walnut

Ash

Osage Orange

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