natural dye textile studio,
providing prints and knits using colors
derived from nature.
Each piece is a product of process, the key to our unique designs. Using ancient methods and experimentation we create colors from our surroundings. We offer original dyed work, prints with natural motifs and hand dyed knits. When you purchase a work from Sister Sumac you will not only get a unique design, you will also know how it was made.
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Quercus species, the nut from the oak tree is high in tannins. This dyestuff can be used as a premordant or add iron for a dark grey dye.
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A South American mammal, whose wool is prized for its softness.
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A naturally occurring mineral salt used to be a fixative in dyeing.
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Persea americana, a berry native to south and central American, the pits and skins of the Avocado produce a pink dye when simmered. Iron will shift for a soft grey color.
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Scabiosa atropurpurea, a perennial plant that produces purple eco prints and green dye baths. Native to southern Europe
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The dye technique of bundling the fabric and dye stuffs and steaming. The steam helps the fibers to open and transfer the color from the plant material to the fabric.
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Computer aided design, in the context of textiles, a process of manipulating motifs in Photoshop to create repeated designs.
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genius Prunus, A deciduous fruit bearing tree, whose heartwood can be used as a dye.
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Dactylopius coccus, A scale insect native to Mexico widely cultivated on cacti that yields a deep magenta to red dye.
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A metal that when oxidized creates a green hue, in combination with various dyes can shift the color towards yellow, green and blue.
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Gossypium hirsutum, cellulose fiber from the cotton plant flower native to Mexico. This plant was independently cultivated in both the old and new worlds and is the most widely used natural fiber today.
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Cota tinctoria, A flowering plant, the flowers create a yellow dye on fabrics.
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Process where colors and shapes of plants are transferred to fabrics or paper.
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tropical tree native to Australia, leaves are used for eco printing, creating sharp leaf shapes in orange and black colors.
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Coreopsis tinctoria, annual plant used in ecoprinting and dyeing. The flowers and the leaves produce rich prints and the flowers give a warm rust dye bath. Native to the plains of North America.
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The act of applying a mordant material to the fibers before dyeing. The mordant acts as a catalyst for the dyes and increases depths of color.
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Quercus genius, A deciduous tree both acorns and leaves contain a high amount of tannin that can impart color to fabrics.
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Rich in tannins, oak galls are formed by wasps laying single eggs on the oak tree from which the larva eats. Oak Galls were first used by the Romans to produce ink and was the main medium for writing through the 20th century.
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Maclura pomifera, deciduous tree native to South Central United States. A bright yellow is extracted from the heartwood of the tree. Native Americans prized the wood for bow making for its strength and flexibility.
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A natural clay pigment found in the earth. Ochres have been used since the beginning of mankind, long standing cave paintings are ochre.
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Carthamus tinctorius, An annual flower that creates a yellow to orange dye, commonly substituted for saffron in cooking and seeds are commonly used for oil.
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A Japanese resist dyeing technique whereby tying, folding, and clamping different shapes are produced.
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A natural fiber produced by moths in the cocoon stage. Silk is a protein fiber and readily takes natural dyes.
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Cosmos sulphureus, annual plant native to Central and South America. Cosmos are used for eco printing and dye pots producing vibrant oranges.
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Genus Rhus, a deciduous tree, Sumac species are found in Asia, Africa and North America and are used for dyes, medicine and spice. It has been used for tanning leather in the Middle east for it contains high levels of tannins. Sumac is used for eco printing and produces strong leaf prints.
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Reseda luteola, a biennial plant, might be the oldest known dye in human history, it has been found in fabrics from the first millennium BC. Weld produces bright yellow colors and is native to Europe and Western Asia.
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Protein fiber from sheep, goats and cammilds. Wool is a very greedy dye substrate and will absorb the color faster than any other fiber.
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The process of dyeing the yarn before it is crafted into fabric.
Space Dye: A yarn dyeing technique where multiple colors are applied along the length of the yarn.
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Spore producing organisms, in the context of textiles, some species can create a plethora of colors.
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Solidago nemoralis, A North American flowering plant, the flowers create a yellow dye on fabrics.
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Crataegus species A thorny shrub-tree whose bark can be used as a light pink to black dye when combined with mordants.
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Hibiscus genius, A flowering tropical and sub-tropical plant whose flowers can be used as a dye.
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Known as Tceqa' Qu' Si, a sunflower cultivated by the Hopi Nation, originally used for dyeing baskets. Produces a rich purple red color from the seeds.
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Alcea genus, biannual plant that produces deep purple flowers perfect for eco printing and dyeing. Thought to be native to Asia
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Indigofera genus, annual plant native to Central America, Japan, and Indonesia. The blue pigment must be extracted from the leaves via fermentation and then converted into a vat. Indigo is the only natural blue pigment and highly prized.
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Knitting technique similar to weaving tapestry. Color are interchanged per row without the use of floats.
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Naturally occurring ore that is used to shift or sadden natural colors which results in a darker color.
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A textile made from interlocking loops of yarn, commonly used in apparel.
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A plant like, symbiotic organic system of fungi and bacteria. In the context of textiles, some species of lichen can create permanent color on textile and have been harvested for centuries for this purpose.
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Haematoxylum campechianum, a tree native to southern mexico, the heartwood of which creates a deep purple dye.
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Calendula genus, annual plant native to Southwestern America and Central America, produces yellow dyes and eco prints. Also used as pest deterrent in kitchen gardens.
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Rubia tinctorum, perennial plant native to India and Europe whose roots produce rich red dyes. Madder must be cultivated for at least 3 years before the roots produce the dye.