Rubia Tinctoria, the famous red dye from the anthraquinone family. Choosing the right Weight Of Fiber (WOF) and the right mordant is crucial for getting the perfect reds (as is choosing the right madder. Many of you struggle with getting the right shades and the most common complaint is that the shades come out too orange, or too pink. Today I will show you how to get the best deep reds, consistently.
If you have not done it yet, I recommend reading this blog about the fascinating history of madder in the Netherlands.
Madder is divided in grades. The higher the grade, the more alizarin content it has, which is the red phytopigment we need. The alizarin develops in the roots of the madder plant and is at its' best after at least three years in the field. The standard of grades is universal wether your madder was grown in Europe or in other parts of the world.
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