Myrobalan
Terminalia chebula
Myrobalan - This dyestuff consists of ground nuts of the Terminalia chebula tree. This tree grows in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indochina and south China. Myrobalan may be used in the mordant procedure or as a dye, giving a light buttery yellow. It is an important tannin for use on cotton in India and southeast Asia due to the light warm colour it imparts to the cloth. Myrobalan is a good foundation for overdyeing. It is also the perfect colour to lay down under a single indigo dip for teal. When used in the tannin procedure, myrobalan requires 15-20% WOF. If using to create a soft butter yellow use 20-30% WOF.
See the MAIWA GUIDE TO NATURAL DYES
Mordanting for the yellow colour: Use alum mordant at 15% WOF for protein fibres and in a separate bath Myrobalan at 20% WOF.
For cellulose fibres either 1) Just use myrobalan alone at 20-30 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 a separate myrobalan dyebath at 20-30%.
Dyeing: Add myrobalan powder to the dye or mordant bath, bring bath up to 55ºC (130ºF) and then add fibre. Continue heating bath to a high simmer (approximately 83ºC (180ºF)) hold for one hour. Adding iron (2-4% WOF) to the bath will produce soft lichen greens to deep grey-greens. Over or underdyeing with indigo produces clear teal shadows.
Below: Myrobalan 30% WOF
Below: Myrobalan 20% WOF and Indigo 1 Dip
