Fixers, mordants, modifiers & dye assistants

Dyes

Fixers, mordants, colour modifiers and dyeing assistants

We stock fixers, mordants and colour modifiers for use with animal (protein) and plant (cellulose) yarns and fibres with both natural dyes and Procion MX dyes. We also stock a range of dyeing assistants including urea, Manutex and Synthrapol.

The mordants and colour modifiers we sell can be used with Earthues dye extracts, our own Hue & Dye natural dye extracts as well as any natural dyes and natural dyeing techniques. If you have any questions regarding the suitability of one of our mordants or colour modifiers for your needs please contact us

To order any mordant or colour modifier online please click the Add to Basket button. To check the contents of your shopping basket at any time please click the View Basket button at the bottom of the page.

Alum

Alum is used as a mordant with Earthues dyes, Hue & Dye dyes or any natural dyes for fixing animal (protein) fibres. For strong colours use 25g of alum for each 100g of yarn or fabric.

125g £1.95 [item code FX005]

250g £3.50 [item code FX006]

Mordant (fixer) for animal (protein) fibres with natural dyes and natural dye extracts

Aluminium acetate

Aluminium acetate is used as a mordant with Earthues dyes, Hue & Dye dyes or any natural dyes for fixing plant (cellulose) fibres. Use 10g of aluminium acetate for each 100g of yarn or fabric.

25g £2.00 [item code FX007]

50g £3.50 [item code FX008]

Mordant (fixer) for plant (cellulose) fibres with natural dyes and natural dye extracts

Sodium carbonate (Soda Ash)

Sodium Carbonate is used for fixing plant (cellulose) fibres with Procion MX dyes (cold water dyeing method). Use 25g of sodium carbonate for each 100g of yarn or fabric.

Sodium carbonate has many uses in natural dyeing. It is used for scouring plant (cellulose) fibres prior to dyeing. It is also an essential ingredient when dyeing using indigo or woad. Additional it can be used as a colour modifier by making dye baths more alkaline. For example, cochineal will produce fuschia pinks when used in an alkaline dye bath.

125g £1.50 [item code FX001]

250g £2.90 [item code FX002]

Fixer for plant (cellulose) fibres with Procion MX dyes

Colour modifier for natural dyes and natural dye extracts

Scour for plant fibres

Citric acid

Citric Acid is used for fixing animal (protein) fibres with Procion MX dyes (hot water dyeing method). Use 25g of citric acid for each 100g of yarn or fabric.

With natural dyes citric acid is principally used to change the PH of the dye bath, making it more acidic. This will change the colour achieved with certain dyes. For example, cochineal produces orange shades in acidified water rather than pinks. Citric acid is also added when using copper sulphate as a mordant.

125g £1.50 [item code FX003]

250g £2.90 [item code FX004]

Fixer for animal (protein) fibres with Procion MX dyes and acid dyes

Colour modifier for natural dyes and natural dye extracts

Thiourea dioxide

Thiourea dioxide is used in indigo dyeing to reduce the oxygen in the dyebath.

100g £2.50 [item code FX011]

Oxygen reducing agent for use in indigo dyeing

Copper sulphate

Copper sulphate is used with citric acid as a mordant (use 5g copper sulphate and 5g citric acid per 100g fibre). Copper sulphate is also used for modifying dye baths to create greener or browner shades of colour and will increase light and wash fastness. Use 5g of copper sulphate for each 100g of yarn or fabric.

100g £1.75 [item code FX012]

Colour modifier and mordant (fixer) for use with natural dyes and natural dye extracts

Ferrous sulphate

Ferrous sulphate is a colour modifier which is used to dull or "sadden" shades. It also increases light fastness but can make fibres rough. Ferrous sulphate is used before dyeing as part of the mordanting process or can be added to the dye bath. Use 2g of ferrous sulphate for each 100g of yarn or fabric.

100g £1.50 [item code FX013]

Colour modifier for use with natural dyes and natural dye extracts

Potassium hydrogen tartrate

Potassium hydrogen tartrate is used for softening animal fibres and modifying colours with some dyestuffs (e.g.: cochineal and madder). Please note that some it is possible to use food grade Cream of Tartar for this purpose however the potassium hydrogen tartrate which we supply is more suitable for dyeing and will give more consistent and reliable results. Use 10g of potassium hydrogen tartrate for each 100g of yarn or fabric.

50g £1.50 [item code FX009]

100g £2.90 [item code FX010]

Colour modifier for use with natural dyes and natural dye extracts

Gum tragacanth

Gum tragacanth is a natural plant thickener to enable dyes to be used for yarn and fabric painting.

25g £4.90 [item code FX014]

Thickener to enable dyes to be used for yarn and fabric painting

Urea

A humectant to keep fibres damp when dye painting

125g £1.50 [item code FX015]

250g £2.90 [item code FX016]

Humectant to keep fibres damp when dye painting

Manutex

A thickener for dyes for yarn and fabric painting

50g £3.50 [item code FX017]

100g £6.50 [item code FX018]

Thickener to enable dyes to be used for yarn and fabric painting

Synthrapol

For degreasing fleece or removing excess dye after fixing

250ml £4.50 [item code FX019]

For degreasing fleece or removing excess dye after fixing

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