How can you understand a root-coloured carpet?

How can you recognise a root-coloured rug? 

Especially those who are buying a hand-woven rug for the first time may want to know how to recognise whether it is root coloured or not. Due to the traditional dyeing methods of root dyes, different shades are seen in the same colour. Accordingly, a root coloured carpet can be understood.

Today, root dyes are preferred for dyeing carpets. As the name suggests, they are obtained from plant roots. However, plant bark, twigs, leaves, seeds or fruits can also be used. Cotton and wool can be dyed in this way.

Today it is possible to achieve different colours in a simple way with the help of root dyes. By increasing or decreasing the size of the root dye plant, light or dark shades can easily be achieved. Apart from this, the following factors influence the root dye:

1.      The excipients added to the dye

2.      The boiling time

3.      The temperature of the water at the start of the dyeing process

4.      Too much or too little dye

5.      The hardness or softness of the water used

6.      The cleaning of the dyed wool

Root-dyed carpet models therefore differ from each other in colour.

What are the colours of root dyeing?

The colours for root coloured carpets are very diverse today. Although there are many plants used in this framework, some of them can be seen below:

1.      Turmeric. The colouring agent is curcumin, and by using different fixatives, colours from yellow to red can be achieved.

2.      The Yemeni saffron. It is found in many parts of Turkey. Potassium bichromate is used as a stabiliser.

3.      A bright black colour is obtained when the stems and leaves are boiled with ferrous sulphate.

4.      The colouring agent is safranin or crocin, which produces a light blue colour with sulphuric acid and a green colour with nitric acid.

5.      The peach tree. When the leaves of this tree are boiled with copper sulphate, a light green colour is obtained.

6.      The thuja. There are two types of thuja: white and black thuja.

7.      The mallow. Green colour is obtained by boiling the leaves.

8.      The eastern sycamore. The dyeing can be done without fixing agents and the red colour is obtained from the bark of the sycamore maple.

9.      Indigo. Indigo dye is obtained in blue colour.

10.   The walnut tree. The dye is juglone or nusin and various brown dyes can be obtained from the leaves, bark and sap.

There are also different root colours. Many results can be achieved in this way. From this point of view, hand-woven carpets also have different colours. It is also possible to find different shades of one colour. By using root dyes, everyone can therefore find and prefer a hand-woven rug according to their own taste and room design.

How is root colour produced?

Root colour is carefully produced by going through the production process. Many factors are taken into account during this process. It is a type of colour that is not produced in 4 seasons. Plants are used that grow in certain periods. When the appropriate season arrives, the plants are harvested and the work begins. On the other hand, it is also possible to produce it at different times when the plant is dried. The process of root dye production can be summarised as follows:

1.      The plant to be used for the production of root dye is taken and pulverised in a suitable quantity.

2.      It is thrown into the kettle together with the strand to be coloured.

3.      The kettle is constantly stirred at the lowest heat until it reaches 70 degrees centigrade.

4.      As the water heats up, the colouring agents contained in the plant structure are transferred into the water, thus colouring the wool.

5.      When the desired temperature is reached, the wool is removed from the fire. The woollen ropes remain in the water for 24 hours.

6.      Finally, they are washed with soap and hung up to dry.

After all these processes, the root dye is obtained. Then they just have to be taken to the carpet looms to start weaving the carpet.

What are the advantages of root colours?

Root colour is a type of paint that is extracted from plants. It can therefore be used in both living spaces and workplaces without any problems. It is completely different from synthetic colours.

In addition, it is aesthetically beautiful due to its natural structure. It can harmonise wonderfully with the surroundings. Since it is natural, it does not flow and does not fade in the sun, no matter how often it is washed. On the other hand, depending on the material of the rug, it should be washed in a special, appropriate way.

Washing a handwoven rug incorrectly can cause problems with the colours. With careful cleaning, this root dye is quite durable.