Fustic Extract
Fustic - An extract prepared from the heartwood of a tree from the Mulberry family, Chlorophora tinctoria. Fustic produces a range of colours from daffodil yellow to deep gold to orange. When used as an underdye with indigo Fustic yields forest greens and teals. Fustic has a high light and washfastness and exposure to strong sunlight may actually darken colours.
MORDANTING: Use alum mordant at 15% WOF for protein fibres and cellulose fibres (there is enough tannin in fustic so that mordanting with tannin is not required).
DYEING WITH THE EXTRACT: Use at 4-6% WOF for a medium depth of shade. Keep the dyebath temperature at about 85ºC (185ºF) for wool and cotton and 77ºC (170ºF) for silk. At a higher temperatures the colour will turn to a dull brown yellow.
For in-depth information on natural dyes see our Guide to Natural Dyes available on naturaldyes.ca. Also available as a Printable PDF.
Larger sizes of natural dye extracts are priced at wholesale rates. Our rates reflect a growing discount as the size increases.