Natural Dyeing Prep Guide: Scouring, Tannins and Mordanting

Before the color comes the preparation — and it matters more than most people realize. In this video I walk through the three steps I do before any natural dyeing: scouring, adding tannins, and mordanting. Not the most glamorous part of the process, but the part that determines whether your color lasts or fades in the wash. I'm working with cotton muslin and linen, using aluminum sulfate as my mordant and oak gall powder for tannins — and I talk through why I use what I use, what your other options are, and how to work with foraged materials if you'd rather not buy supplies. 🌿 Mentioned in this video: Aluminum sulfate Washing soda / Super Washing Soda Oak gall powder Dawn dish soap Timestamps: 1:00 — Scouring: what it is and how to do it 6:06 — Planning your dyeing schedule 8:22 — Tannin bath: oak galls and foraged alternatives 10:08 — Color variation between different tannin sources 18:52 — Mordanting: options and measurements 22:04 — Putting it all together Find me here: 🌿 Substack — weekly articles on natural dyeing, making, and slow living: https://linnatplay.substack.com 🪡 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linnatplay/