Woad and how to make the dye

[matowakan]

I have been growing Woad for a couple of years and now I would like to try and make the dye.
I have looked up various sites and they all differ slightly on how to make it and whether to use soda ash or cream of tartar for example.
Does anyone have a site they recommend on how to make Woad dye or any tips on making it?

[sleepyowl]

They used to mix it with urine too

[gregorach]

I don't know the details of the process, but I do know that it stinks so badly that woad-makers were always forced to live and work well away from any neighbours...

[matowakan]

Maybe I will give that a miss for a while and investigate the soapwort!!!!

[gregorach]

If you want to give it a try, this might be the place for you: http://www.woad.org.uk/html/extraction.html

There's no mention of a hideous stench, so that might be related to medieval processing techniques, which I believe involved some sort of fermentation...

[matowakan]

Thanks Dunc for that site, I am def going to give it a go now!
Regards Fi

[Zech]

I know nothing about this, but I know who does, and she doesn't seem to have spotted this thread yet.

http://colouritgreen.wordpress.com/2011 ... ad-dyeing/

[red]

I know nothing about this, but I know who does, and she doesn't seem to have spotted this thread yet.

http://colouritgreen.wordpress.com/2011 ... ad-dyeing/

aha! i was just thinking.. i know i know!