Natural Dyed Ribbons for Bouquets

Perhaps I’m late to the party but I’ve considered natural dyeing for years and often picked up books to start learning this craft. It was the science part that prevented me from pursuing dyeing probably because I saw the word “mordant” and chemicals which to me meant ‘science!” I tend to complicate things and overthink often but finding a recent video about dyeing natural fibers and its simplicity (much to my amazment) made me take another look and I’m so pleased by the results.

I love the roughly torn pages of paper, burnt edges and yellowed ephemera. There is character and history in their souls. Artificially recreating this is also a love of mine and so ripping cotton strips for dyeing was so satisfying:) I like that frayed result and enjoy wrapping a bridal bouquet with this juxtaposition of pristine florals and the dishelveld rough edges of the ribbon.

The resulting colors can’t be found in shops where I will search and search for that color I have stuck in my head but can’t find. And this is Paris! The mercerie shops are abundant with ribbon and trim. So, dyeing my own gave me the liberty to experiment and create shades that I had imaged. The colors aren’t vivid and maybe that’s why you can’t find these shades in shops. Something old is created by dyeing and blends with the something new like the new beginnings and journey of a marrage.

There is a science to dyeing but it isn’t complicated. Perhaps it is more an artform like working with watercolors; let the colors do their thing and the results are a success!