Walnut
juglans nigra
Walnut (Eastern Black Walnut) – This dyestuff is obtained from the bark of the tree and also from the green husks of the fruit. Domonique Cardon has called walnuts “great living laboratories of dye production.” Walnut is a substantive dye and can be used without a mordant. It can be used alone to produce warm deep taupes or to give extra depth in combination with other dyes.
See the MAIWA GUIDE TO NATURAL DYES
Mordanting: Use alum mordant at 15% WOF for protein fibres and cellulose fibres (there is enough tannin in walnut that mordanting with tannin is not required).
Dyeing: Maiwa carries dried walnut husks and powdered walnut husks. Each can be used at 30-50% WOF for a medium depth of shade.
Options: Historically walnut has been used with madder (both rubia cordifolia and rubia tinctorum) to produce mahogonies. Walnut responds well to overdyeing with iron producing rich grey/browns.
Below: Walnut 50% WOF
