Dye Series 3 - Part 2 - Dyeing with Mahogany, Bocote and Padauk

While I've seen natural dyes with padauk shavings before, I have never seen anyone try mahogany and bocote. I love all three woods and the results they gave, especially on wool. If you have tried these, please let me know your results!!! www.thefiberpusher.com

[@vickihibbs8083]

I just adore Autumn too! Love the variety of colors, especially on the wools.

[@joelbaker9366]

Note about the padauk wood, since I've done some testing with it as well. Water and alcohol extractions are not light-fast, and as a test, fade in less than one month of direct sunlight. This was on both wool and cellulose fibres.
If you want a range of colours on cotton or linen, I recommend a urine vat to extract the dye, and a post mordant to give you a range of colours. These are light-fast, and after one month in direct sunlight, show minimal fading. Unfortunately, if used on wool, it gives a yellow after being rinsed, with no change with a post mordant.
No mordant - chocolate brown
Oxalic acid - yellow
Aqueous copper (copper dissolved in ammonia) - pink
Copper acetate - brown-pink
Alum - don't remember
I also don't remember if I tried a pre-mordant, but want to sat that I only ever got the same yellow, no matter what one was used.

[@benitastory8213]

Mine have been in a box, but I haven't looked at it in a while. Since this is a new-to-me dye, I have never light or wash fastness tested it. Now, I need to test it this summer when we have the sun back. Thank you for letting me know your results.

[@joelbaker9366]

I think the tests I did with water and alcohol extractions did change over time without being exposed to anything other than indirect light, and incandescent light, but I don't remember what they did. I think they "saddened" in colour, but didn't fade noticeably.
A lot of people are leery of doing a fermentation vat, and it's understandable, but it can be started with using ammonia, it's just harder to set up compared to using stale urine. Yes, it does smell before you use it, or while you're getting it set up, but if the anaerobic bacteria are doing their job, it should smell like ammonia, or get to a point where it has no smell. At either of these points, your dye is ready to use, and is effective as a "cold vat" (how I do all my tests). It does need "care and feeding" until it is ready, and all that is is urea, commonly sold as yeast nutrient at brewing shops.