Welcome to The Alchemist's Color Codex!
- Elizabeth Ives
- Oct 27
- 2 min read
This site is dedicated to my sometimes random, sometimes scientific natural dyeing projects. From "What does this plant do?" to "Let's find every possible variation of that dye," every color is documented here.
Each color card flips over to reveal the recipe I used to achieve that shade. However—and this is a huge however—I didn't always take the detailed notes I should have on every dyeing project!
The difference between magic and science is writing it down. Or, in my case, the difference between the Garden Witch's messing around with dye pots and the Alchemist's serious experiments is the proper documentation.
What to Expect (And What Not To!)
As I add more color cards, I'll be using much more precise notes. You may notice that, much like the Technical Bake in The Great British Bake Off, these recipes don't come with extensive instructions.
I'm approaching this site with the understanding that you already know the basics of natural dyeing. That includes fabric preparation, dye preparation, the single-pot method, pre-mordants, post-mordants, and how to use pH shifts.
That's a lot, especially if you're new! If you are totally new to natural dyeing, I sincerely encourage you to begin your journey with some of the many wonderful content creators, YouTube tutorials, blogs, and books on the subject. I absolutely want new dyers here, but you'll get more out of this site once you have a little experience under your belt. And no, I won't be including those fundamental instructions to get you started.
That said, the safety page is worth reviewing no matter your experience level. In my opinion, it's a topic not enough people cover, and it's essential for everyone from the garden to the kitchen to the lab.
Advice for Newcomers
If you're a new dyer, what should you look for when you're starting out?
Start with a source that clearly explains the critical differences between a dye and a stain. I’ll be adding a blog post on this soon because it's a topic near and dear to my heart!
Look for sources that prioritize basic technique over collecting colors. Learn the techniques, and the colors will follow. Without that understanding , you'll end up wondering why you can't get the same color twice, or why everything is turning out dull and muted. You might also take on more risk than you're aware of.
When you're ready, this site will be here waiting for you.
For everyone still here, welcome to the lab! Happy dyeing!
