How to Make a Green Natural Dye with Privet Berries

[@nancyskinner5207]

My first natural dye bath was with grape iris blossoms. I was so excited when I saw the color of the water. It was a deep rich purple. Guess what color my yarn was. Yellow. That was over 30 years ago. I’m still experimenting. Today I’m dying with purple garlic skins. It’s still exciting. If I don’t get purple though I won’t be shocked. I enjoy your videos very much. Can’t wait to try privet berries again. What a beautiful green.

[@MyraMadeColor]

Thank you! I've never tried purple garlic skins - how interesting!

[@nancyskinner5207]

Garlic skins are not the best dye material. I got an almond color. Acid and alkaline made no change.

[@jdmosaics]

@@nancyskinner5207 onion skins both Red and Orange make great colour

[@beritblackie3168]

You’re a fab teacher & I’ve already learned so much from you. Thank you! 😊🌸🌸

[@MyraMadeColor]

Oh thank you!

[@riokizis]

Love this & needed this video! We have a lot of invasive privet that I want to slowly replace with natives.. After seeing this vid I might try removing them after they begin producing berries, so i can at least process and freeze the berries.. this is so fun :)

[@MyraMadeColor]

It is invasive! A bird planted mine and I keep pulling out new starts. I don’t cut mine out because of the berries. 😊

[@TheFunctionalForce]

This is unrelated, but as I'm getting ready to dye with privet berries and watch your fantastic tutorial, I can't help but to notice you look a lot like Christina Appelgate to me! Especially when you smile! :D

[@MyraMadeColor]

I like her- thanks! 😊

[@titesalsera]

Don't like to strain ? Get yourself a potato masher ! Here general method with berries: I start with very little water. When the berries are cooked enough, I take the pot off the heat source and smach the berries with the potato masher, add a bit more water and finish the extraction. Then, I strain, put the berry pulp in a mesh bag if I want to add it back to the pot with the yarn. That's only 1 straining instead of 2 😉. Now I'm off to collect privet berries to try your recipe.

[@MyraMadeColor]

This is a great idea! I will try it, and thanks for sharing.

[@gell5662]

I'm a new viewer to your channel and I absolutely love how you can create such beautiful yarn colors from nature! I guess we can use the leaves from the privet berries to make another color? xD

[@MyraMadeColor]

I haven’t dyed with the leaves yet but I think they do! Another experiment to add to the list. 😊

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

I just picked some privet berries today. It is nice to have other natural dye sources like this in the winter when flowers aren’t available. I’m excited to see what green I’ll get.

[@MyraMadeColor]

Good luck!

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

@@MyraMadeColor I got a light sage green. I wonder if the green would have been deeper if I had picked the berries in late summer rather than early winter. Happy New Year!

[@ailienrhijnsburger5178]

Ok, nowI have to go and find some privet berries. Those colours are amazing! And the method is pure magic! I love that you share what the colours look like on different types of yarn. So helpful! Thank you. Now I am off, going to bingewatch all your other videos! 🤣

[@MyraMadeColor]

I'd like to keep showing how dyes look different on different types of fiber. It does make a difference. I'm glad you found it helpful.

[@woolenbluebird]

Gorgeous! I’m in Missouri. Off to check if privet berries grow here. The color reminds me of the results I’ve gotten from black hollyhocks

[@sonjanordahl3158]

I'm new to your channel. I'm going thru the old videos and I have a question. How long can you store the dye water if you keep it in a cool dark place?

[@MyraMadeColor]

That’s a great question. It would likely depend a lot on the dye material. I’ve successfully used stored dye several months old. But I will toss if mold develops or the smell is “too” intense. You can test by heating a sample of dye with a sample of fiber and see what happens.

[@surendersingal2192]

Thank u ma'am. For making green dyeing so easy. It was puzzling to see, alpine changing color from purple to green n absorbency index of different fabrics from same solution. Jussojuan

[@App_Vault]

Thank you Ma’am…just perfect video I’ve been searching for.You’re the best ❤️🙏🏻

[@singingpuffin]

This is very cool and inspiring. I'm wondering why do you not make the dye bath alkaline to begin with? Why grey first, then green? And if you leave non-superwash in overnight, will you get a deeper colour?

[@SmallFossy]

Such a nice green! Now I have to go berry hunting, hopefully they’re not all gone lol

[@MyraMadeColor]

Good luck!

[@emilykatemadethis]

Thanks for another lovely video. I'm not sure if you've answered this already, but if you dye something then turn it alkaline, when you knit it up into something and wash it, will the colour be effected? If the pH is different I am nervous I'll get another colour 🤣 thanks ☺️

[@MyraMadeColor]

Good question! It depends a lot on what you use. For example, with privet berries I rinsed with water and the color didn't shift back. However, when I used hibiscus flowers with an alkaline bath, it immediately shifted to the original color after rinsing. You can always test the pH of the water you're using, too. If the skeins I've dyed pass the original test of making through a through rinse, I feel confident using them in a knit project. (I also only gently handwash my naturally dyed knits.) :-)

[@sondragingery5949]

Did you mordant your wool first? If so, what did you use? At that alkalinity, do you need to do anything other than rinse the wool afterward?

[@MyraMadeColor]

I used an alum mordant for the wool. For rinsing, I don’t add anything special: rinse until the water runs clear.

[@brandondolguin]

I consulted chatGPT and it says to use lemon juice to acidify the liquid to between 4-5 and ensure not to heat more than 180° to get the purple color to stick instead of the grey. Maybe it works; I'd like to hope AI is not always terrible. Thanks!

[@laurascholz7334]

Great video, I love the results you got. Good job!

[@lyrebird9749]

Thanks, this is a great video and the colours are wonderful. Do you know the species of privet that you used?

[@MirrimBlackfox]

was the wool pre-mordanted (and with what? Alum?) or are Privet Berries a direct dye?! It would be so cool if it was a direct dye.

[@ailienrhijnsburger5178]

One more question: I saw you demonstrating a lightfastness test in another video. Have you tried that with the privet berries? I read in one of my dyebooks that berries are often not very lightfast compared tk leaves or flowers. Curious to hear what your exoerience with privet berries is! Thanks again for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@MyraMadeColor]

I did a lightfast test with privet berries and it held the color well. But in general, berries (such as blackberries) will usually fade quickly (purple becomes gray). I always think it's best to do your own tests to see how your own dyes hold up when exposed to light.

[@ailienrhijnsburger5178]

@@MyraMadeColor Thank you so much, Myra!

[@lisascenic]

Berries rumbling Berries clunking Delightful! (Also, did you mention if this wool was mordanted? I might have missed that detail.)

[@MyraMadeColor]

Thank you! The wool was mordanted with alum.

[@saragreenfield1648]

Thank you for the video! Beautiful color! I'm new to dying...why do you add the soda wash after the yarn has soaked for awhile and not from the very beginning?

[@MyraMadeColor]

Great question! I dye the berries at a simmer (not boil), however an alkaline dye + high heat + too much time can damage wool (I’ve made this mistake a few times). Therefore, I’m cautious: dye first with high heat, shift dye, then turn heat very low or off. I hope that helps!

[@saragreenfield1648]

@@MyraMadeColor ooooh ok so the alkaline solution would weaken the yarn? That makes sense. Thank you so much! You're my favorite natural dyer! So informative!

[@ShamimJahuri]

Charming...much love.shamim zahuri from bangladesh🇧🇩🎯🏡✌

[@sondragingery5949]

I looked up the types of privet, because the one I have in my yard doesn't produce much in the way of berries. However, the various sites all state that these have a toxicity for humans (and for dogs.) So be sure you are working with dye tools and pots only. I do have a farm near me that has a lot of wild hedge that looks like privet and has berries. I think I will see if they will let me prune out some this year.

[@MyraMadeColor]

Absolutely- best practice is to ALWAYS keep your dye supplies separate from kitchen supplies whether or not what your dyeing with is poisonous. I cover this more in my Natural Dye Basics series.

[@marlimciiff2370]

But are they still poisonous once dyed? I’d like to make a green dye for a baby blanket but now worried.

[@MyraMadeColor]

@@marlimciiff2370 I'm always abundantly cautious with making items for a baby because of their potentially sensitive skin. I believe it is important to always research the item you want to dye with, from multiple sources, and make a decision best for you.

[@friedasorber1653]

Does the yarn stay green if you put it in vinegar water bath? These purple berry dyes usually keep changing color. It is a classic acid alkaline color change.

[@MyraMadeColor]

I haven't tried it. That would be a good experiment!

[@raelynnreffruschinni8802]

Have you tried this with cellulose? Very cool. I guess some purples will turn green with an alkaline modifier and a yellow. I've tried it with logwood and weld, and watched someone use turmeric and black mulberry juice.

[@MyraMadeColor]

I haven't tried it with a plant fiber yet.

[@KristlWebb]

I use an extra fine mesh tea infuser filter meant to fit a half gallon mason jar (bought from Mason Jar Lifestyle). It is metal, very tall and sits to the side of my fabric in the pot. I sometimes clip it to the pot to keep it from falling over. I think it works great!

[@MyraMadeColor]

That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@yetanotherentity]

What is the reason for the first round of dyeing before adding the washing soda? Doesn't it just give a grey base color that the green has to cover later? What happens if you just add the undyed fiber straight to the green dye, skipping the first round altogether?

[@MyraMadeColor]

Once you add the washing soda to the dye, you have to be careful to not "cook" the yarn at a high heat for a long period of time because it can roughen or weaken the animal fiber. So, I found that I achieved a richer, more saturated color by keeping the fiber in the dye bath for a long time, then shifting it to alkaline (using washing soda). Doing only one round of dye has worked for me in the past, but the method in the video is my preference. If you haven't done so already, try it either way and see which method you prefer. I hope that helps.

[@carolbeebee8151]

Shifting the water towards alkaline turns it green. If I shift the water towards acid, would it go/stay purple?

[@MyraMadeColor]

I wish! When I shifted the dye with vinegar to create an acidic dye bath, the color washed out. When I tried an iron mordanted fiber (instead of alum), the color when gray. The experimenting continues!

[@Lucinda_96]

I dyed with privet berries some time ago and got two beautiful green colors. One a deep green and another a lime green. The lime green came from burning the berries on the stove. I've been trying to get these colors again with no luck. I collected 1000g of privet berries. Not sure if the freezing is changing the colors. I originally used silk mordanted in soy. I've tested it on a variety of mordanted cotton and some silk to no avail!!

[@danielletrottier6699]

Is washing soda the same than baking soda ?

[@jennykoczur9339]

No, baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, and washing soda is sodium carbonate. Washing soda is a stronger alkali than baking soda. You can still use baking soda to shift your pH, but it might take a lot, and you might not be able to get it high enough to shift the color. Worth a try though!

[@c.h.1073]

whats the music

[@mikejones6529]

I was walking around rubbing parts from different plants to see if they left any color, and Dame's Rocket did. I rubbed the petals into the bill of my hat and it turned a deep green. The fabric was sort of tan to begin with, so maybe it makes blue dye and mixed with the yellow to make the green. I don't see anything about it for natural dyes, but it works and it grows all over the place. That might be a fun one for you to experiment with.

[@ShumaiAxeman]

Im planning on making a linen tunic and want to dye it myself a kind of pastel forest green, this video looks like my ticket for just that, thanks very much+

[@MyraMadeColor]

Go for it!

[@KristlWebb]

There are lots of waxes and parafins on linen so be sure to first scour it well with Synthrapol and soda ash. Simmer it in there until the water turns a dark yellow. Otherwise, the fabric may not absorb the dye very well.

[@nian60]

Wikipedia says that there are 50 species of privet. Do you mean we should use Ligustrum Vulgare, or another type of privet? Thanks.

[@MyraMadeColor]

Great point! I believe I use Japanese Privet (Ligustrum japonicum). I would try whatever you have growing locally and see what happens. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[@nian60]

@@MyraMadeColor OK. Thanks for the reply. 🙂

[@Axecapoeiracomoxvalley]

Can i make dye with any berries?

[@Beeontree]

Try a mortar and pestle to mash the berries too

[@MyraMadeColor]

Great idea!

[@ekatha.k.s94]

I am from India and we dont have privet berries here.I wanted a dark green dye

[@chrisb3790]

Because this dye is so reliant on pH, if you spilled something extremely basic or extremely acidic on it would that change the color?

[@MyraMadeColor]

It's very possible, but thankfully that hasn't happened to me yet! It would be a good experiment.

[@Lucinda_96]

Why don’t you add the washing soda at the start of inserting the fabrics? Just curious why you let the yarn sit in the original bath before changing the color.

[@MyraMadeColor]

The washing soda plus high heat for a long time can potentially damage the wool. Therefore, I like to have the fiber absorb most of the dye before adjusting. That allows it to be a high heat for longer.

[@ErinneKennedy]

immersion blender? and I heard that aqueous ammonia added to the cooled dyebath does but I havent tried it

[@MyraMadeColor]

Both interesting ideas. If you use a blender, do not also use it for food. Dye supplies cannot be kitchen supplies.

[@MsHedgehog]

May I suggest tryng a jelly/syrup sieve? It is a mesh bag and a holder, and you can squeeze the liquid from the bag after straining.

[@MyraMadeColor]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@Amritadivya54]

Please tell me that you have separate pots and spoons for dyeing and cooking. Privot berries are highly toxic to humans and can cause kidney failure if ingested. Please look it up if in doubt. You should have been wearing a mask to help avoid breathing in anything. Natural does not equate with non-toxic. I just got rid of a large privot tree in my yard when I found out that it is a non-native invasive species from China and the berries are toxic to people. Birds and squirrels eat them without ill effects all the time but they have a much different metabolism than we do. Next time please dye outside and wear protective gear for your safety and for your family. Thanks for listening.

[@MyraMadeColor]

Thank you for your concern. I’m well aware that natural does not mean non-toxic, and only use equipment designated for my natural dyes. I state this in the description of the video, as well as other cautions to take if concerned. Thanks for watching- and if you’re looking for natural sources of green dye, I also have a video using carrot tops.

[@ancientspinner9755]

​@francescapoteet5481 the fiber and cloth dyed are washed after dyeing. Note also that she wears gloves so dye is not absorbed into the skin.

[@ancientspinner9755]

Can you use a hand potato masher to mas the berries?

[@ancientspinner9755]

Curious if you have used a lighter alkaline, like baking soda? Just curious.. really enjoyed your video!

[@ancientspinner9755]

Why can't one start with the alkaline dye? Not clear why there are 2 dips?

[@AnimeShinigami13]

what happens if you do this with baking soda or ammonia instead? how does it compare?

[@MyraMadeColor]

Baking soda and ammonia will adjust the color.. I suggest trying all three to see which you prefer best. I use washing soda because I don't like the smell of ammonia and it seems to work better than baking soda.

[@AnimeShinigami13]

@@MyraMadeColor hmmm... now i just have to learn how to identify privet and find one near me. currently I'm reverse wrap plying scraps of an olive green I made from wild grapes and baking soda. I thought it might have had some residue leftover from an iron dyed skein of something else that got put in the dye bath before it.

[@sneeuwvlokjes1]

I have tried the berries and I will go on. Thank you for your guide. But did you try the white little flowers. I am asking before trying since my hedge is full of them today but donot expect much color

[@MyraMadeColor]

I haven't tried the flowers (or leaves) but would be curious to see what happens. Why don't you try it on a small sample? Good luck!

[@jdmosaics]

Are these the Chinese Privet berries? Do you have a botanical name please? I read that Privet is known to cause significant irritations to sufferers of hay fever

[@MyraMadeColor]

It is the Japanese privet (ligustrum japonicum). I will update my video description with the scientific name. If you are concerned with breathing in fumes (with any natural dye), make sure to have plenty of ventilation and use a face mask. Some people are sensitive to fumes, while others are not. I developed a sensitivity to onion dye fumes and now where a face mask to avoid a headache.

[@theresazelazny7445]

What kind of mordant did you use?

[@MyraMadeColor]

I used alum for a mordant.

[@garrettsees]

I heard/read that using salt/see water will create a greenish-blue. Have you tried that?

[@MyraMadeColor]

I’ve also read that salt helps create blue, dye but I haven’t tried it yet. Unless using indigo, natural blue dyes seem to fade quickly to gray.

[@cherylstraub5970]

What did you mordent your wool with?

[@MyraMadeColor]

Alum (aluminum sulfate)

[@slhughes1267]

Would like to know the botanical name of your berries. As a watcher, they look more like elderberries or some type of viburnum than a privet. The privet/ barberry/bearberry that I'm aware of have little tiny red or dark green leaves and oblong, tiny red berries.

[@anitapeura3517]

They are definitely privet, we have a lot of it in southern Australia, pesky weed. Their berries are black like hers. I also grow several species of viburnum and elder, they are not those plants.

[@aaronhadzess7312]

I love the blooper at the end!

[@MyraMadeColor]

My brother keeps me in line. ;-)

[@theflamingpearl]

Wow, love the colors!!! Now I have to find a neighborhood with privet berries! The mohair color is divine 😁Love the blooper at the end😂❤

[@MyraMadeColor]

Thank you!

[@kathyenglish8427]

Super video!! I love the variations between wools and heat - I wonder what would happen if you made the dye alkaline from the start - 🤔

[@MyraMadeColor]

When I tried that method, it seemed like the color wasn't as bright. I think it was because I kept the wool in the bath for a shorter period of time and at a lower heat. High alkalinity plus high heat can roughen the wool fibers if you're not careful. If you try it, let me know what happens!

[@gmarcelle]

I have a recipe for dyeing with Australian Indigo, in which the dye bath is alkalised well before the fibre is added. After you add the fibre it all sits at about 50 degrees Centigrade for about 20 minutes. Beautiful blues. If I find privet berries I will test the method on them 🙂

[@lyrebird9749]

​@@gmarcelle Hi, I'd be very interested in your recipe for dyeing with Indigofera Australis (Aust. native indigo). I have a large plant with plenty of fresh leaves but so far no success in extracting more than a very pale green colour, and all the videos/tutorials seem to be using a different species (American or Japanese). Also, privet is often grown as a hedge in Australia but in NSW it is an invasive weed so you can't buy it. I'd be interested to know if you find a source.

[@gmarcelle]

@@lyrebird9749 hi. Try this link www.vreeken.nl/img/pdf/346498%20Australische%20Indigo,%20complete%20beschrijving.pdf Or google Turkey Red Journal Spring 2013. Robyn Heywood has written a very interesting article on indigofera Australis and shares her method, which is what I used. I thought to find the privet by a local riverside where it was growing wild. As yet I haven’t searched for it. I think Spring would be the best time. Good luck with the indigo.

[@gmarcelle]

@@lyrebird9749 it’s from Turkey Red Journal, Spring 2013. Article by Robyn Heywood on Indigofera Australis. Apologies if you got my previous similar reply, but it seems to have vanished 🙂. I source privet from a river bank, but it may have been eradicated by now.

[@cherylstraub5970]

could you use an immersion blender to squish the berries?

[@MyraMadeColor]

I think that’s an interesting idea and worth a try. Just don’t use if for food again! Dye supplies are only used for dyeing.

[@anushkaaggarwal5217]

is privet berries known as blueberries?

[@MyraMadeColor]

They are not the same. Blueberries are good to eat, but do not create a dye. Privet berries are toxic to eat, and do create a dye.

[@stevecash2858]

I love your reaction and smile at minute 16:04. That was worth the whole video. "so cool!!"

[@MyraMadeColor]

This color will slowly mellow with age, like most natural dyes. It's important to prepare your fiber with a mordant process before dyeing to prolong light fastness.

[@pinkerbot]

​@@MyraMadeColor?

[@lillyhoram6508]

Do you need to wait for the berries to turn black or can you use them when still green? The colours you've produced are beautiful and I'm watching the local privet for when they change but I'm impatient.

[@MyraMadeColor]

I would wait until they ripen. I’m an impatient person, I totally understand. ☺️