This year we're looking for fabric dye sources right here on our residential lot in Oakland, California, as part of our "back to the land" theme. Last time we dyed with camellia petals: pink (a bust) and red (a success). See Dye Project: Camellia Petals.
Today I'm dyeing with tulip tree flowers. What I call a “tulip tree” is actually a magnolia, and most likely a Magnolia x soulangeana cultivar, which is a cross between Magnolia liliiflora and Magnolia denudata. We have a mature tulip tree in our yard, and many in the neighborhood. I couldn’t find any information about dyeing with tulip tree flowers, so not sure what to expect.
For this project I used basic dye equipment, and a well-ventilated workspace. I used a soaking pot, a dye pot, a heat source, and a candy thermometer to keep the dye bath at a consistent temperature. I also used a strainer and cheese cloth to remove the petals from the dye bath. Supplies include:
- Tulip tree petals
- Lemon
- A gallon of water (+ more as needed)
- Prepared cotton fabric (scoured, gallnut mordant, and alum brightener)
NOTE: For safety, use a face mask and rubber gloves.
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| Outdoor studio and basic equipment |
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| Prepared cotton fabric (dish towels, napkins, and handkerchiefs) |
The Weight of Fabric (WOF) was about 9 ounces (259 grams). I typically dye dish towels, but this year I’m expanding to other cotton items. For this batch I used:
- 2 dish towels
- 2 napkins
- 2 large handkerchiefs
- 2 small handkerchiefs
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| Tulip tree flowers (Magnolia x soulangeana cultivar) |
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| Collecting and freezing tulip tree flowers |
I collected about 28 ounces of tulip tree flowers, so, the WOF% for 9 ounces of fabric was about 311%. I gathered the flowers throughout March, and froze them to preserve the color. Tulip tree petals are very thick and spongy. It doesn’t take long to gather quite a few petals. The supplies for the project include:
- 28 ounces tulip tree flowers
- 1/2 lemon
- A gallon of water
- 9 ounces prepared cotton fabric
Extract the Dye
First, extract the dye, using our basic process:
- Add petals and lemon to the pot.
- Simmer for an hour.
- Soak petals.
- Strain them.
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| Rinse tulip tree petals in water to clean them |
Rinse the petals to remove dirt. Add the petals to a gallon of water in a stainless-steel pot. Stir in juice of 1/2 lemon and its rind.
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| Tulip tree flowers in dye bath with lemon |
Bring to 180-200 degrees, and simmer for an hour. I have read that the temperature should be kept between 160-180 degrees for flowers and leaves. My equipment isn’t that fine-tuned, so I’ll use our basic extract process, and see if it works. Soak petals and lemon rind for three days.
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| Spent tulip flowers |
Strain petals out of the dye bath using cheesecloth. Return the dye bath to the stainless-steel pot. The resulting liquor is a brownish orange. It has an odd fragrance that is difficult to describe. Maybe like soap.
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| Tulip tree flower dye bath |
Dye the Fabric
Then, dye the fabric using our basic process:
- Add wet fabric to dye bath.
- Heat the dye bath and simmer for an hour.
- Soak fabric in the dye bath.
- Rinse and hang to dry.
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| Add fabric to dye bath |
Add wet, prepared fabric, and simmer for an hour, keeping the temperature between 180-200 degrees. Stir periodically to make sure dye is distributed as evenly as possible.
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| Rinse fabric until water runs clear |
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| Air dry fabric |
Let soak for an hour or overnight. For saturated color, I let it soak for three days. Squeeze out excess dye from the fabric. Rinse the fabric in cool water until the water runs clear. Run the fabric through the washing machine rinse and spin cycles, using cold water. Let the towels air dry. Two weeks later, wash the towels in pH neutral soap, like Synthrapol, and hang to dry.
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| Lemony-yellow dye results |
The resulting color is a cheerful lemon yellow.
Learn More:
- The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes, by Sasha Duerr
- Botanical Colors – Dye Flower Instructions
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