Dyeing Wool and Other Fibers with Mushrooms

Many mushrooms may be used to dye wool, some fabrics and other fibers. Paper can be made from some mushrooms and mushroom papers can be dyed with other mushrooms for a unique, textured, colored, paper suitable for art applications. Until recently I was only aware of a few species that were useful for these applications. This past summer I attended the 2007 NEMF Annual Samuel Ristich Foray at the University of Maine in Orono. There I witnessed a truly beautiful display of dyed wool made by Anne Williams of Stonington Maine. Anne has been experimenting with mushrooms as dyes for years and the results of her efforts are truly impressive. She uses many mushrooms no one else seems to use and has dyed wool with dozens of species. I would have eaten the chanterelles but she makes nice yellow wool with them. She had dozens of different colored wools on display that were labeled with the types of mushrooms and mordants/modifiers she used.

Simple natural mordants/modifiers like salt water, vinegar, ammonia, a copper pot, and a rusty iron pot are used. For 4-5 oz. of wool, up to half of a plastic shopping bag of mushrooms is generally required. About 12 oz. or more of mushrooms per 4 oz. of wool is a good way to measure (3 to 1). An alkaline solution is best in most cases. When using ammonia, about one cup per 4 oz. of wool should be used (2 to 1). Dye makers polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii) and lobster mushrooms (Hypomyces lactifluorum) can be used in smaller quantities.

Dyes can be made with the mushrooms you find that are not edible, slightly gone by, or wormy. This can add a new dimension to your collecting.

Below is a chart of mushroom species, mordants/modifiers, and results of Anne's work in dyeing wool.

Species	Mordant/Modifier	Color Produced
Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)	ammonia	muted yellow
Flame Colored / Yellow Foot Chanterelle Cantharellus/Craterellus ignicolor	ammonia	muted yellow
Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)	ammonia/iron pot	gray-green
Horse Mushroom (Agaricus arvensis)	salt water iron pot	yellow-tan gray-green
Meadow Mushroom (Agaricus campestris)	salt water iron pot	yellow-tan gray-green
Blewit (Lepista nuda)	ammonia/copper pot	grass-green
King Bolete (Boletus edulis)	ammonia	chrome-mustard
Maitake (Grifola frondosa)	ammonia	soft yellow
Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus, L. cincinnatus)	ammonia	orange
Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)	ammonia	red-brown
Purple Spored Puffball (Calvatia cyathiformis)	ammonia	rust red
(Calvatia ruboflava)	vinegar	rust red
Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum)	ammonia	cinnamon pink to red
Artist's Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)	ammonia	rust
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)	ammonia	brown
Reishi (Ganoderma tsugae, G. lucidum)	ammonia	rust
Dye Makers Polypore (Phaeolus schweinitzii)	ammonia ammonia/copper pot ammonia/iron pot salt water	orange deep green red rust brilliant yellow
*Lepiota americana*	salt water ammonia	pink beige deeper tones
Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)	iron pot ammonia	bayberry gray-green

Use of this site will constitute your acceptance of the disclaimer.