Madder Dye Kit

Our madder dye kit has everything you need to dye 100 g of cotton in rich madder reds, using the traditional tannin and alum method. It is a complete first project for beginners and a great gift for makers.

What is in the kit

• 100 g undyed cotton fabric, ready to dye (tell us your choice from our undyed fabrics, or we will choose one for you)
• 20 g soda ash for scouring
• 10 g green oak gall powder (tannin)
• 15 g alum (potassium aluminum sulfate)
• 2 g soda ash for mordanting
• 100 g madder root powder
• Gloves and a dust mask

How it works

1. Scour: simmer the fabric with the 20 g of soda ash to clean it.
2. Tannin: soak it overnight in the oak gall bath (10% WOF).
3. Mordant: soak it in alum (15% WOF) and soda ash (2% WOF), several hours or overnight.
4. Dye: heat the madder (100% WOF) to 60–70 °C (140–160 °F) and dye for an hour. Never boil: madder turns brown above about 70 °C.
5. Cool, rinse and wash with a pH-neutral soap.

The full step-by-step instructions are in our madder dye kit guide. Plan for 2–3 days, mostly waiting time.

You will also need

A stainless steel or enamel pot used only for dyeing, a thermometer, a bucket, two glass jars and a heat source.

Want other colors?

Use the leftover madder bath for soft pinks, dip in a weak citric acid solution for orange, or try our purple and mauve recipe with iron.

Related: Everything to know about madder · All natural dye kits

Frequently asked questions

Is the madder dye kit good for beginners?

Yes. It includes every dye and mordant in the right amounts, plus gloves, a mask and step-by-step instructions.

How much fabric does the kit dye?

100 g of cotton or linen, which is about one scarf, a tote bag or a small table runner.

Can I use the kit on wool?

Yes. Skip the oak gall and soda ash steps and mordant wool with the alum only; you will get bright reds.

Work out exact grams for your fabric with our free natural dye calculator and WOF chart.