Quebracho is supplied as raw plant matter for natural dyeing and is a tannin-rich dye known for its ability to produce warm, earthy shades with good depth and presence.
Quebracho offers a grounded colour palette that ranges from soft beige and warm taupe through to deeper reddish-brown and muted rust tones, depending on fibre type, mordant and concentration. It produces good dark greys and grey-browns when modified with iron.
Key Features
• Raw plant matter for natural dyeing
• High in tannins
• Produces warm browns, tans and reddish earth tones
• Great colour variation when used with different mordants or modifiers
• Suitable for protein and cellulose fibres
• Offers good depth of colour with relative little dye
Colour Characteristics
Quebracho typically yields warm beige, tan, cinnamon and reddish-brown shades. On protein fibres such as silk and wool colours usually appear richer and slightly redder, and on cellulose fibres tones tend to be softer and more muted, leaning towards warm taupe or light brown. Modifying and mordanting variation produce a fabulous range of shades from just one dye. Adding Calcium Carbonate to the dyebath will also help produce richer, redder browns.
Depth of colour is easily controlled by adjusting the Weight of Fibre (WOF), making Quebracho suitable for both pale neutrals and stronger, darker tones.
Ideal For
• Silk, wool and other protein fibres
• Cotton, linen and other cellulose fibres
• Creating natural browns, tans and greys
• Textile artists seeking stable, earthy colour results
How to Use
Preparing the Dye Bath
Use approximately 20–40% Weight of Fibre (WOF) of Quebracho raw plant matter, depending on the depth of colour desired. Lighter percentages will give soft beige and tan shades, while higher percentages will produce deeper browns.
Soak the plant matter before heating to help release colour. Gently simmer to extract the dye, avoiding vigorous boiling. Strain the dye bath if a clearer result is preferred.
Mordanting
For protein fibres (silk, wool):
Pre-mordant with alum at approximately 10–15% WOF. Ensure fibres are clean and thoroughly wetted before dyeing.
For cellulose fibres (cotton, linen):
Use a suitable mordant process for plant fibres, such as alum combined with tannin. Proper preparation is essential for good colour depth and durability.
Quebracho also responds well to post-mordanting and modifying. Iron produces grey-browns, including very good dark grey on silk. Copper and Soda Ash will push the colour towards chestnut, chocolate or rust. Always test first.
Dyeing
Add well-wetted, mordanted fibre to the prepared dye bath. Slowly raise the temperature and maintain a gentle simmer. Allow the fibre to dye gradually, checking colour regularly. Try adding Calcium Carbonate for more intense colour. Letting the fibre cool in the dye bath often deepens and enriches the final shade.
Rinse gently in cool water until clear and dry away from direct sunlight.
Important Notes
As with all natural dyes, colour results will vary depending on plant batch, fibre type, water quality and technique. These variations are a natural part of botanical dyeing and contribute to the character of the finished textile.
Sampling and note-taking are recommended if you wish to refine or repeat a particular shade.
