I have wanted to work more with fabric and fiber for years. So I am going to start my journal here, I am trying to learn about eco dying. First I thought it would be good to look at some mordants, so I found this This information comes from the Earth Guild , so thanks to to them.
THE MORDANTS
ALUM (potassium aluminum sulfate) is the most common mordant. If you are not sure what you want to do, mordant with alum, and use the others as additives. Alum does not effect color. It is usually used with cream of tartar, which helps evenness and brightens slightly. Three ounces of alum and one of cream of tartar is a good start; if you have heavy wool, use four ounces of alum. Too much alum makes wool sticky. Alum mordanted wool stores well, wet or dry.
IRON (ferrous sulfate) is called copperas. It will sadden or darken colors, bringing out green shades. Usually wool is dyed BEFORE mordanting with iron. Simmer dye-bath for ½ hour, remove wool, and add ½ ounce of iron and one ounce of cream of tartar to pot. Dissolve thoroughly then re-enter wool. Simmer ½ hour more. Rinse well (remember to cool slowly-see above); too much iron will harden wool and make it streak.
TIN (stannous chloride) blooms or brightens colors, especially reds, oranges and yellows. Almost always used with cream of tartar — ½ ounce tin and 1-2 ounces of cream of tartar for a pound of wool. Simmer for an hour and rinse in soapy water before dyeing. Tin is a good additive mordant. Store wool wet or dry. Too much tin makes wool brittle. It is caustic, be sure to handle carefully and clean up thoroughly.
BLUE VITRIOL (copper sulfate) saddens colors and brings out greens. It is a good additive. Used alone, one ounce will mordant a pound of wool. Rinse fiber well, store wet or dry. Blue vitriol is poisonous.
TANNIC ACID is a good mordant if you want tans or browns, or for cotton or linen (vegetable fibers). One ounce per pound of wool, simmer for an hour. Wool mordanted with tannic acid before dyeing tends to darken with age.
GLAUBER'S SALTS are a leveling agent, not a mordant. Add ½ cup to your dye-bath to prevent streaking. Color will change slightly. Wool dyed to slightly different shades with the same dyestuff can be brought to a more even color with Glauber's salts. Add one cup of Glauber's salts to your dye-bath, dissolve, add soaked wool and simmer for ½ to one hour, until the different shades have blended into uniformity. The final color will be a little duller.
so for natural dye sources, I look to my garden. I really want to try the hascaps for rich blues, rhubarb for reds, and so on.....
I have 2 garments ready to go, which I mordanted with alum and cream of tartar, so I will continue to post about this as I have something to share, good and bad. Right now, our focus is on the Garden Party on July 8th, lots of fun artists coming and live music for the first time.
so for natural dye sources, I look to my garden. I really want to try the hascaps for rich blues, rhubarb for reds, and so on.....
I have 2 garments ready to go, which I mordanted with alum and cream of tartar, so I will continue to post about this as I have something to share, good and bad. Right now, our focus is on the Garden Party on July 8th, lots of fun artists coming and live music for the first time. 
