Natural Brown & Black Dyes

Natural brown and black dyes for fabric come from tannin-rich plants. Black walnut hull powder gives warm tan to chocolate brown, often without a mordant. Acorn and red pine bark extracts give earthy and pink-brown tones. Oak galls and sumac with a little iron give soft greys to deep black.

How to dye natural black

A true natural black is built in layers: a strong tannin bath, then an iron bath, repeated until you reach the depth you want. Overdyeing with indigo gives the deepest blue-blacks.

Browns on any fiber

Tannin dyes work on cotton and linen as well as wool and silk, which makes them ideal for neutral, timeless colors and for dye-ready blanks.

Frequently asked questions

Does walnut dye need a mordant?

Walnut is rich in tannin and dyes without a mordant, but alum gives more even, lightfast results.

How do I make grey with natural dyes?

Dye with a tannin such as oak gall or sumac, then dip in a weak iron bath.

Can I make ink from these dyes?

Yes. Oak gall and iron make traditional iron gall ink; add gum arabic to thicken it.

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