Easy home made walnut brown dye for leather, fabric, wood and leather

In this video, we look at how to make a simple, colourfast, brown dye for wood, fabric, leather and wool from walnut husks.
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Opening Music credits:
Artist = Earth Tree Healing
Composer = Claudine West
Website = claudinewestmu...

[@teresawalker8390]

Well THANK YOU very much for your wonderful videos! We’re grateful for wise help!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are so welcome!

[@peters7196]

I work with leather and have walnut tree! Brilliant, thanks!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Perfect!

[@MiddleEastMilli]

Varnish? Glue? Yes please!!! Thank you!!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'll look at them this Winter!

[@fabianosantos7557]

Wonderful. Thank you for sharing sir 😊

[@EnglishCountryLife]

My pleasure

[@jodimaree3455]

Thanks for taking the time to create a great video.Very informative , and will definitely use this for dyeing leather and material 👍

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Thanks Jodi!

[@B3RG3RS0N]

I heard about this dye many times before . Thank You for taking time to show how to make it

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm glad you enjoyed it Robert

[@B3RG3RS0N]

@@EnglishCountryLife I forgot to ask: how old were Your wallnut trees when they started having nuts/fruiting?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@B3RG3RS0N They need to be mature. A lot depends on climate. 10 years gets you a harvest. 20 a big tree

[@Karen-eh5zg]

Very clever! I never knew this. Thank you 🙂

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm glad it was interesting! Hugh

[@alanmuddypaws3865]

Excellent! Would be interested in seeing how to make black dye, actually interested in seeing how to make any colour really.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I will add them to the list!

[@Coxeysbodgering]

Now I know why I couldn't get my hands clean for months. My grand parents used potassium per magnate (condys crystals) to stain floor boards, looks cyan to deep purple in water depending on concentration. A black dye and glue would be very informative I know older societies used powdered rock for black and hides and hoofs etc could be used for glue. Thank you Hugh and Fionia, take care and stay safe, Mike.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

KMnO4 is a very useful chemical, I should cover it one day! Hugh

[@Coxeysbodgering]

@@EnglishCountryLife believe it or not as child with a sort throat I had to gargle with it! When studying advanced organic chemistry my professor was aghast when I told him! Mixed with sugar it makes a very effective ignition source as well.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@Coxeysbodgering But you need to apply pressure....ooops I was determined not to say that 🤣

[@orlaithmcg]

I'm one of those who've never seen a walnut in its outer husk. I don't think I've ever seen a walnut tree, to be honest. I don't think they're very common here. Very interesting video, as always.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Orlaith 👋, I have wondered if a "know your trees and their uses" video would interest people. What do you think? Hugh

[@orlaithmcg]

@@EnglishCountryLife I definitely think so. I would anyway!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@orlaithmcg I'll add it to the list! Hugh

[@LittleCarol]

@@EnglishCountryLife Yes please Hugh x

[@senyangepatrick4716]

Great information more so for the unemployed youths in poor countries. thanks so much

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I'm glad that you liked it. Traditional techniques are often nearly free

[@Greg-su8nu]

That was great, thank you for sharing. Happy Holidays.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

The same to you Greg - have a lovely Jul

[@albertafarmer8638]

Thank you very much from Canada.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

You are welcome Gordon, glad that you enjoyed it. Hugh

[@gerrigarrott4255]

I really enjoyed your video. Ive also put a few walnuts in to boil then i did the leaves, ready to dye my wool tomorrow. Looking forward to see how it comes out.Thank you again.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Fantastic - I hope it works well!

[@jurgenbergman6887]

Exactly what i have been looking for. Product without any chemicals. Working with leather and i have been trying to dye with read and black berry's with so far a good result

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Excellent. Walnut is great, but generally needs multiple applications for a dark shade

[@jurgenbergman6887]

@@EnglishCountryLife With the red and black berry´s i just heated it up and pressed the berry´s and filtered it. Then i put a strip of leather to suck it in for a few minutes, done :)

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@jurgenbergman6887 Is it colour fast in the wet?

[@jurgenbergman6887]

@@EnglishCountryLife Still :) I put leather balsam on it and did not get any colour from the leather. My goal is to find and use natural colour with out any chemicals.

[@timothyneiswander3151]

Some people use it as hair dye. I have not tried it because I am allergic to walnuts. I do think I will try it as a leather dye though.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a new one on me! 👍

[@inbloom2006]

Very informative without being long-winded or overly technical, well done! Lovely color, too. After boiling fabric in the dye, can the remains be saved to use again?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They definitely can, although I tend to filter them clean again!

[@adkinsmikkelsen4980]

Woodglut is nice for that.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Woodglut?

[@azsunburns]

I can remember being a teen & being tricked by my aunt. She talked me into husking walnuts. Soon my hands were black & she was laughing more than I had seen my whole young life. Thankfully, peroxide is magic...but it took some work! Thanks for the video. I'm rather against buying so much product when nature provides.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I think I would have liked your aunt 😂

[@azsunburns]

@@EnglishCountryLife good times!!

[@scarletpeate]

Brilliant I use it as hair dye too. But watch out for your skin changing colour. Lol. Brilliant content as always. The Hungarians use lots of trees for beautiful dyes .. thought of you both today when I uploaded today video on a log holder that my husband invented today. Check it out and let me know if you've ever seen a similar design? Abd what is called ?? Thanks.

[@scarletpeate]

Log grabber actually I should have said

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Will do!

[@funnyfarm72]

Wonder how it would work to add a little of the dye to homemade leather conditioner for a monthly refresh type of conditioner...

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@funnyfarm72 It's not something I've tried so if you give it a go, I'd live to hear how it works out!

[@ericcastillo592]

You should sale it on eBay i would buy some

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Maybe next year! We gave thought of selling a few craftsman made items, but have never been sure if people would want them

[@223rocks]

I wonder how it would die the cotton if you let it dry, and then rinsed it

[@EnglishCountryLife]

It works fine on cotton and is remarkably colour fast

[@GaryYoung-eq1ph]

Seeing theres no walnut trees in sight but plenty of chestnut trees!? Yes? Same procedure?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sadly not Gary. Both sweet chestnut & horse chestnut have very interesting uses, but dye us not amongst them

[@teresawalker8390]

Hello, I don’t have walnut trees near me. What else can I use instead? Thank you!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@teresawalker8390 Hi Teresa, unfortunately, whilst there are other vegetable dyes, they almost all need a mordant

[@janeconnery463]

How long can this be stored without going moldy?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi Jane, I've got a two year old jar in my workshop that's just fine

[@janeconnery463]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you--I'm boiling some up now!

[@RobertCMorin]

I'd love to see a deep purple die. I've had a few wood and leather pieces I've wanted purple or with purple over/undertones. any idea what I'd use? I love your videos!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

There's several possibilities - red cabbage, blackberry or sage but the roots of a cherry tree are probably best

[@RobertCMorin]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thank you ... wonder if my neighbor would notice if I dug up a little of their cherry tree's root 🙂

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@RobertCMorin You wouldn't think it would work as a dye, but, pulverised, it really does. Elderberry is very effective with a suitable mordant but has, I feel, a slightly blue tinge

[@gracielaherrera5809]

Can you teach us how to make glue?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

That's a good idea, I keep meaning to film that

[@srh1101]

Hugh, you're 4 weeks too late with this. My local walnut dropped all its fruit beginning of October :o) Have to remember this for next year. How well does the dye keep and what's the best way to store it?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Sorry! One of the hardest things is trying to make things seasonal everywhere. We store it in glass jars or bottles in the workshop and it lasts two or three years easily. Hugh

[@marigold605]

Great video! Just wondering if it’ll keep indefinitely or does it need something added?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I've kept it for several years with no issues 🙂

[@marigold605]

@@EnglishCountryLife good news! Thank you 😀

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@marigold605 You're welcome 🙂

[@augustbinderybespokeatelie8092]

Hi there, really great video! I'm interested in naturally dyeing vegetable tanned goatskin bookbinding leather with some other colors, like Concord grape skins for blue and probably some raspberries and other plants. Would you have any general advice on this? I'm thinking I should use a mordant like alum sulphate. Would you soak the leather or just apply the dye to the leather in layers like in this video? Thanks so much!

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Hi August! I would certainly use a mordant with most vegetable dyes. I've no experience of goatskin or bookbinding so can't help too much but in general terms I would dampen the leather then apply dye with a dauber. I have found that some thinner leathers need conditioning after dye to keep them supple. I would love to hear how you get on, its a fantastic project! Hugh

[@augustbinderybespokeatelie8092]

@@EnglishCountryLife Thanks so much, Hugh! In that case I'm just going to give it a go and see how it goes. I'll definitely let you know how it turns out. Do you have an email address I could send you pictures to and let you know all the steps I used and what works and doesn't, in case you'd like to try yourself and maybe make a video? I plan on doing multiple colors from various plants, and maybe a few mushrooms.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

@@augustbinderybespokeatelie8092 Absolutely! You can reach us on Twitter @engcountrylife or email [e-mail]. Bookbinding is a fascinating craft - I look forward to seeing it!

[@augustbinderybespokeatelie8092]

@@EnglishCountryLife I really appreciate it! I'll be in touch!

[@rendydrounette3921]

Will this work with pecans?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

I very much doubt it, it's peculiar to walnuts

[@syedahmadrazaofficial]

Awesome! Can I use it to leather?

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Absolutely!

[@syedahmadrazaofficial]

@@EnglishCountryLife ❤️

[@macwoodlee2532]

Do they bleed? I mean, when you rub them with wet white tissue..

[@EnglishCountryLife]

They shouldn't leach dye but it very much depends on what you are dying. Generally walnut dye does not need a mordant to fix the dye & make it colour fast but it is always sensible to test carefully as different materials take dye differently.

[@jackofalltrades9746]

Home made leather conditioner without neatsfoot oil which will buff to a shine

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Interesting, now when you say conditioner for...shoes or boots or what?