How to Dye Wool With Carrot Tops
Learn how to dye wool using green carrot tops in this simple, sustainable natural dye tutorial. Turn kitchen scraps into soft yellow and earthy green tones while exploring an easy, beginner-friendly plant dye project.
12/29/20253 min read
Click Here to watch the YouTube video
Materials
Wool yarn or wool fabric (scoured / clean). Example: 100 g sample used in recipe below.
Fresh green carrot tops (leaves and stems)
Alum (aluminium sulfate) is a common textile mordant.
Cream of tartar (optional, brightens/softens the colour).
Large stainless-steel or enamel pot (do not use pans you use for cooking, avoid aluminium).
Wooden or stainless steel spoon, strainer, scale, thermometer (helpful).
Gloves, apron, and good ventilation.
Safety first
Wear gloves when handling mordants (alum) and dye baths.
Work in a well-ventilated area.
Don’t use aluminium pots (they react with mordants).
Do not use pots that you use for cooking food in.
Dispose of spent dye liquid down the drain with plenty of water unless local regulations advise otherwise.
Quick recipe (for 100 g wool, use this as a rule of thumb)
Green carrot tops: 200–400 g (2–4 × weight of fibre, fresh weight)
Water: enough to cover
Alum mordant: ( 7-10% weight of fibre )
Cream of tartar: 5 g (optional, 5% OWF)
Step-by-step
Scour the wool
Fill a pot with warm (not hot) water and a little mild soap (no agitation).
Gently soak the wool for 15–30 minutes, swish minimally to remove oils and dirt.
Heat the wool slowly and bring it between 60–80 °C. Do not boil.
Hold the wool at this temperature for about 1 hour, then allow it to cool. Do not stir.
Rinse in warm water. Handle gently to avoid felting.
Hot Mordant the wool
Carrot tops are a low-tannin dye, so mordanting is important for good colour and washfastness.
Weigh your clean, dry wool (example uses 100 g dry weight).
Dissolve alum (7% OWF → 7 g per 100 g fibre) and cream of tartar (5% OWF → 5 g per 100 g fibre, optional)
Put the wool in the pot and add enough water so it can move freely. Add the dissolved mordant solution.
Gently heat to just below a simmer (around 70–80 °C) and hold for 45–60 minutes. Do not boil or stir vigorously.
Turn off the heat and let the wool cool in the pot for 30–60 minutes.
Rinse gently and keep the wool wet until ready to dye.
Tip: Cold mordanting (overnight soak at room temperature) also works and reduces the risk of felting.
Prepare the carrot top dye bath
Chop the fresh green carrot tops into smaller pieces to increase surface area. Use leaves and soft stems only.
Place the carrot tops into a pot and cover with water (1–2 L for the amounts above).
Slowly heat to just below a simmer and maintain for 60–90 minutes.
The liquid will shift from pale green to yellow-green and then toward a soft yellow or olive tone.
Turn off the heat and allow the plant material to steep for several hours or overnight for stronger colour.
Strain out the solids and return the dye liquid to the pot.
Dye the wool
Add the pre-mordanted, wet wool to the strained carrot top dye bath.
Heat gently to below a simmer (keep under ~80 °C).
Maintain this temperature for 30–60 minutes, ensuring the wool stays submerged.
Turn off the heat and allow the wool to cool slowly in the bath, ideally overnight, to deepen the colour.
Remove the wool and rinse gently in cool water until clear.
Hang to dry away from direct sunlight.
Aftercare
Wash dyed wool gently with a wool wash or mild soap in cool water.
Avoid hot water and agitation to prevent felting.
Colours from natural dyes may soften slightly after the first wash.
Troubleshooting & tips
Too light: Re-dye in a fresh carrot top bath or let the wool cool overnight in the dye.
Felting: Temperature too high or too much movement — slow heating and minimal handling are key.
Colour washes out: Ensure proper mordanting and slightly acidify the bath.
Uneven colour: Make sure the wool is fully wet and has room to move; stir very gently when adding it to the dye bath.
Variability: Carrot variety, freshness, season, and water chemistry all affect results. Embrace the variation!
Colour Modifier
To extend the colours you can achieve, try a Modifier, sometimes called an afterbath. Iron works well with carrot tops.
Full instructions on how to use an iron modifer are available on my YouTube channel. Click the link to the video.
What colours to expect
Without iron: pale yellow → soft straw → muted yellow-green
With iron modifier: olive → moss green → grey-green
Green carrot tops are an excellent example of turning kitchen waste into beautiful, earthy natural colour — subtle, seasonal, and endlessly variable.