An extract prepared from the heartwood of a tree from the Mulberry family, Chlorophora tinctoria. Fustic produces a range of colours from daffodil yellow to deep gold to orange. When used as an underdye with indigo Fustic yields forest greens and teals. Fustic has a high light and washfastness and exposure to strong sunlight may actually darken colours.
Mordanting:Use alum mordant at 15% WOF for protein fibres.
For cellulose fibres either 1) Just use fustic alone at 4-6% WOF or 2) for a deeper yellow, use a clear tannin (like oak gall) and then alum at 15% and soda ash at 2% and then dye with fustic as below.
Dyeing with the extract:Use at 4-6% WOF for a medium depth of shade. Keep the dyebath temperature at about 85C (185F) for wool and cotton and 77C (170F) for silk. At a higher temperatures the colour will turn to a dull brown yellow.
For in-depth information on natural dyes see ourGuide to Natural Dyesavailable onnaturaldyes.ca.Also available as aPrintable PDF.
Currently the largest sizes of natural dye extracts are priced at wholesale rates. Our rates reflect a growing discount as the size increases. See all sizeshere.
