Shepherd Textiles Wild Madder Extract Natural Dye 1 oz — Concentrated Red Tones for Wool & Cotton

Shepherd Textiles Wild Madder Extract is a one-ounce concentrated natural dye that yields pink, crimson, and cherry tones for up to a pound of fibre when used with a mordant.

Harvested from rubia tinctorum and concentrated for home and studio dyeing, this one-ounce vial lets fibre artists and textile crafters experiment with authentic madder-derived reds without bulk storage. The extract is formulated for dyeing protein and plant fibres; results depend on fibre type, pre-mordanting, water chemistry, and immersion time. It’s intended for textile projects only and pairs best with a compatible mordant to fix colour and enhance lightfastness.

How will this madder extract affect different fibres?

Madder reacts differently to wool, silk, and cotton because of fibre composition and how they accept mordants. Protein fibres such as wool and silk typically produce deeper, warmer reds, while cellulose fibres like cotton may yield paler, more pink-toned results unless thoroughly mordanted.

• Wool and silk: richer crimson and cherry shades.
• Cotton and linen: pinks to soft reds with proper mordanting.
• Blended fibres: intermediate tones depending on composition.
• Test swatches: always dye a small sample before committing to large pieces.

What preparation steps produce the best colour from this 1 oz. extract?

Preparing fibres and using a mordant are the most important steps for consistent colour. Scour fibres to remove oils and sizing, mordant according to fibre type, and control bath temperature and time to achieve your target shade.

• Scour: clean fibres with gentle detergent to remove impurities.
• Mordant: alum or iron pre-treatments for brighter or muted tones respectively.
• Dye bath: dissolve extract in warm water, maintain simmer rather than rolling boil.
• Timing: longer soak yields deeper colour; monitor and sample frequently.

How much will one ounce dye and how do I scale recipes?

This concentrated ounce is designed to dye up to about one pound of fibre to a red shade; yield changes with desired intensity and fibre type. For larger projects, scale linearly while testing proportionally; factors like mordant concentration and bath volume also affect final colour.

• Standard yield: up to 1 lb (approx. 450 g) for red shades.
• For paler pinks: use less extract or shorter immersion times.
• For deeper crimson: increase extract amount or repeat dyeing passes.
• Always make test swatches when scaling recipes beyond one ounce.

Can I mix this dye with other natural dyes or adjust tones?

Madder pairs well with other natural dyes and modifiers to broaden the palette without synthetic additives. Layering or combining with tannins, iron, or co-dyes can shift tone toward coral, brick, or muted rusts while maintaining an all-natural workflow.

• Combine with cochineal or brazilwood for brighter pinks and corals.
• Add iron (ferrous) to mute and deepen toward brick or brown-reds.
• Use tannin pre-treatments on cellulose fibres to improve uptake.
• Layer dye baths gradually and test between passes for control.

This extract is intended for textile dyeing only; avoid use on food, cosmetics, or medical applications. Store in a cool, dark place and keep the container sealed to preserve potency.

Who is this for: Makers, indie dyers, fibre artists, and textile restorers who prefer plant-based colorants and want a modest, concentrated supply to experiment with authentic madder reds. Ideal for those testing shades, creating small-batch garments, sampling new colorways, or combining natural dyes in artisanal projects.