Dyeing with Natural Dyes
updated November 26, 2022
Recorded here is my own personal collection of articles, resources, favorite links, teaching ideas, and lesson plans. It encompasses many years, from the very beginning of my experience studying and learning about Waldorf to the present time. People from all around the world visit my site and recommend it to others. Welcome!
This site records my journey. I hope my honesty is encouraging and helps break down some barriers that may prevent people from trying Waldorf methods. Because this is an ongoing site documenting my curriculum planning and ideas, some materials are more Waldorf-y than others. Please feel free to take what you like and leave the rest.
This page has helpful links and LOADS of free resources to help you plan your seventh grade year. Enjoy!
Although dyeing is often touched upon in the lower grades starting even in Kindergarten using simple methods
(sun jar, crockpot), and can logically fall in Third Grade Fibers & Clothing or Fifth/Sixth Grade Botany,
I think this is the best time to do a deep and sustained exploration of it.
After all, Seventh Grade is when students learn Chemistry and Ratios, both absolutely necessary
for dyeing in a serious way! If you don't have time to give it its own block, I would suggest
doing these activities as part of your study of Ratios in Math.
results of our first set of experiments!
Pinterest - Renee Schwartz My curated collection of visuals! Browse sample main lesson book pages, watercolor paintings, chalkboard drawings, etc. for
Natural Dyes.
Right now I'm just collecting links as I find them. Enjoy!
rusty nails cochineal madder indigo
avocado skins & pits
acorns
Using the Library
There are MANY good dyeing books; here are the ones I have so far on my shelf. I
can't suggest which are a must-buy until I work more with them, so I suggest
making a trip to your library!
If you're looking for some free inspiration, the lovely people over at The Spruce have put together a list of blog posts for different color dyes, with photos and some brief instructions. Here they are:
basil, blackberries, cherry tree roots, dark purple iris blooms, daylily blooms, elderberry, grapes, hibiscus flowers, huckleberries or blueberries, mulberries, pokeweed berries, raspberries, red cabbage, red cedar roots, red maple bark, sweetgum bark
amur maple leaves, beet roots, birch bark, broom bark, broom sedge, coffee grounds, colorado white fir bark, coneflower, dandelion roots, fennel, goldenrod shoots, henna, hollyhock, ivy twigs, juniper berries, maple tree buds, oak acorns, oak bark, pine bark, st. john's wort, sumac leaves, tea leaves, walnut hulls, white maple bark, wild plum root, yellow dock
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