How to Dye Wool Yarn Naturally with English Ivy

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Scour the yarn

Soak your wool yarn in soapy water over medium heat to remove any natural oils clinging to the fiber. This scouring step helps the yarn take the ivy dye evenly in later steps, so don't skip it even if the yarn looks clean already.

Step 2 — Mordant the yarn with alum and cream of tartar

In a separate pot, prepare a mordant bath using alum and cream of tartar. Add the scoured yarn and let it soak in the mordant bath for an hour or more, then strain it out. Mordanting prepares the wool to accept and hold onto the ivy dye, so give it the full soak time before moving on.

Step 3 — Make the English ivy dye bath

Collect a good quantity of English ivy trimmings and cut them into smaller pieces. Add the cut ivy to a dye pot with rainwater or regular water, ready to simmer down into a natural dye bath.

Step 4 — Dye the yarn

Add your mordanted yarn to the ivy dye pot and simmer everything together for about an hour to extract and absorb the colour from the ivy. Keep an eye on the pot as it simmers, gently stirring occasionally to help the colour take evenly across the skein.

Step 5 — Rinse and dry the yarn

Once the dye bath has finished simmering, strain the yarn out of the pot and rinse it thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear and any leftover soap or dye residue is gone. Squeeze out the excess water and lay the yarn out to dry completely before moving on to finishing touches.

Step 6 — Finish and use your yarn

Once your yarn is fully dry, it's ready for your next project — weave in ends, bind off, block, or wash it as needed depending on what you're making. Every batch of English ivy dye will vary slightly in shade, so enjoy the one-of-a-kind colour you've created.

Frequently asked questions

What safety precautions should I take when dyeing yarn with English ivy?
Wear protective gloves whenever you're handling alum and cream of tartar, the mordants used to prepare the yarn. These chemicals can irritate skin with prolonged contact, so gloves are recommended throughout the mordanting and dyeing process.

What determines the final colour of English ivy dyed yarn?
The final shade depends on factors like how much ivy you use relative to the amount of yarn, how long you simmer the dye bath, and how long the yarn soaks. Because natural dyeing varies by batch, expect some variation in colour and yield each time you dye.

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