Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: mcginnis6010 on April 26, 2012, 08:55:11 pm

Title: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: mcginnis6010 on April 26, 2012, 08:55:11 pm

Anyone out there know what native americans used to make their dyes? I know that cherokee tribes often wore colorful items. My great- grandmother was full blooded cherokee and when i was just a kid had shown me some of her stuff that had been her mothers and its was very colorful and beautiful.

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: Outbackbob48 on April 26, 2012, 11:15:11 pm

Don't know if these were used but they will produce some colors. Bloodroot(orange), pokeberrys(purple) black walnut(brown), I use blackwalnut an hemlock to get a nice black color for my traps, I,m sure there are others that i'm missing. Later bob

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: Pat B on April 27, 2012, 12:27:48 am

There are mineral pigments like red ocher, or chalk for white, sulphur for light yellow and probably others too.

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: mcginnis6010 on April 27, 2012, 12:56:17 am

thanks guys ill try some of those.

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: Pat B on April 27, 2012, 02:01:26 am

I think you can get mineral dyes from CrazyCrow.

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: YosemiteBen on April 27, 2012, 01:31:16 pm

check out paleotechincs - my friend Tamara is great with pigments and often teaches Parfleche classes with natural pigments.

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: IsaacW on April 27, 2012, 04:13:42 pm

Depends what you are dying but there are some books and websites that give some info.  I do a little porky quillwork on occasion and played with dying quills with bloodroot this spring...  http://frenchinwisconsin.yolasite.com/my-blog/quill-dying-fun

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: swamp yeti on April 28, 2012, 01:47:21 pm

There are a lot of natural dyes out there blood root.yellow root,walnut,osage orange dust or shavings all these boiled in water makes beautiful dyes for baskets and clothing.my people used it a lot the cheerokee,long hair clan.

Title: Re: Natural primitive dyes?
Post by: sadiejane on April 29, 2012, 12:15:39 pm

there are two great websites that not only sell earth pigments
but have many pages of how to obtain and utilize your own.
earthpigments  is one
and naturalpigments is another

there is also a book ive been wanting to pick up
"Earth Pigments and Paint of the California Indians"
by Paul Douglas Campbell
have only read about it so have no specific info on the book

edited to add this link i found very fascinating
if you are into the history of such things
an interview with the author of the above book
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/apr/08/discovering-the-history-of-california-indian-art/ (http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/apr/08/discovering-the-history-of-california-indian-art/)