Making Your Own Plant-Based Dyes – First Steps and Materials
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What are plant-based dyes?
Plant dyes are natural dyes extracted from flowers, leaves, roots, or other parts of plants. These natural dyes have been used for centuries to dye fabrics and to produce paints for art and crafts.
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Make your own plant-based dyes
Many plant-based dyes can be made at home using simple methods. With a little water, plant material, and basic tools, you can create natural pigments and colors. Even simple techniques like cold grinding can produce your first natural shades.
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Materials for plant-based dyes
For your first plant-based dyes, you only need a few basic materials – such as dried plants, a mortar, water, and suitable paper or fabric. You can also find many of these materials in our shop.
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Creative possibilities
Plant-based dyes can be used in many ways – for example in painting, textile dyeing, or experimental art projects. This creates natural colors with their own unique tones and textures.
The Development of Plant-Based Dyes:
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Origins
Centuries ago, colors were extracted from plants, earth, and insects.
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Development
Over time, new techniques created more and more possibilities for using natural colors.
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Industrialization
In the 19th century, synthetic dyes largely replaced traditional natural dyes.
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Today
Today, many people are rediscovering the diversity and beauty of natural dyes.
Applications:
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Textile Dyeing
Plant-based dyes can be used to dye fabrics and yarns naturally – from soft tones to vibrant colors.
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Cosmetics
Plant-derived colorants are also used in natural cosmetics, for example in lip colors or nail polish.
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Painting
Plant-based dyes are ideal for watercolors, inks, and experimental painting on paper.
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Design & Innovation
Natural dyes are increasingly explored in art, design, and research, opening up new creative possibilities.
Materials for your first natural dyes:
Suitable dye plants for beginners:
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Mallow blossoms
Mallow blossoms✓ suitable for cold grinding
✓ easy to work with
👉 for violet & blue shades* -
Safflower (dyer’s thistle)
Safflower (dyer’s thistle)✓ suitable for cold grinding
✓ easy to work with
👉 for yellow shades* -
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* "The information is intended as a starting point for further experimentation. Depending on the plant part used, the grinding method, or the materials added or applied to (e.g. fabrics), the color palette can be significantly broader."
– from Farbstark mit sevengardens, p. 171
Find the right paper for your project:
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Watercolor Pad | 300 gsm
Watercolor pad✓ pH-neutral
✓ 2 surfaces: smooth & textured
✓ A6 format
👉 ideal for watercolor & on the go -
Cellulose Paper | 300 gsm
Cellulose paper✓ pH-neutral
✓ also available in 120 gsm
✓ from A4 up to large formats
👉 ideal for most applications -
Hemp Paper | 320 gsm
Hemp paper✓ pH-neutral
✓ very dimensionally stable
✓ A4 and large formats
👉 ideal for intensive techniques -
Good to know:
You can also test our papers at the sevengardens Living Lab workshops.
From First Experiments to Your Own Artwork:
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Getting Started
More about sevengardenssevengardens connects people around the world who preserve and develop knowledge about plant-based dyes. The network creates space for exchange, inspiration, and new ideas around natural colors.
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Learning
Explore our workshopsIn our workshops at the sevengardens Living Lab, you will learn step by step how to make your own plant-based paints – from pigments to watercolors.
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Experimenting
Discover our sevengardens® setsThe world of plant-based dyes invites you to experiment – from simple color tests to constantly new creative applications.
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Get involved
Contact usMany products in our shop are created together with dialogers from the sevengardens network. If you have an idea or a product, feel free to contact us.
