ABOUT COLOUR AND SWATCHES

COLOUR

Colour is a living thing. The apparent colour of a textile will change with the quality of light falling on it: daylight, shadow, florescent, incandescent, soft or harsh.

Photographing a textile will result in a colour interpretation by the camera’s sensor, or by the colour balance of the film being used.

A computer monitor will also interpret colours. Apparent colour will vary depending on the monitor, software and viewing conditions.

And so we encourage a generous interpretation of the colours presented on these swatches and yarns when you view them on your screen.

The colours produced by natural dyes are not like paints. Natural dyes do not give an exact colour on a fibre, rather they will change depending on the colour of the fibre, the fibre type, the dyeing method and even the season and harvest of the dyestuff. Many dye plants (like madder) contain multiple colourants that can give a range of colours from yellows to browns to reds. And finally, even a single colourant may shift its tone depending on the pH of the dyebath.

We’ve photographed these swatches under carefully controlled conditions. They are a good indication of how the same dyestuff behaves on a variety of fibre types and surfaces.

YARNS

Naturally grey wool from Blue Faced Leicester sheep.

Organic Merino wool.

SWATCHES

Linen - organic linen

Hemp - twill weave organic hemp

Cotton - organic cotton fabric

Silk - crepe de chine, georgette, jaquard, charmeuse

Wool - Dorr Mill