Blue Dog Natural Dye House is based in Providence, Rhode Island and offers dyeing services as well as small batch naturally-dyed accessories, yarn, & upcycled clothing. the dye house was born out of a love of color, yarn, and a rescue dog named Winston who insisted on being included in the dye process.

From the Blue Dog Natural Dye House website:

WHAT ARE NATURAL/BOTANICAL DYES?
Natural dyes include dyes from nature, such as botanicals (flowers, leaves, nuts, and trees) and bugs (like cochineal) that, when combined with ingredients (many of which you can find in your grocery store) can be used to coax beautiful colors onto fiber. The amazing thing about natural dyes? Every single color blends together.

Why use natural dyes instead of synthetic dyes?
Using natural dyes enables me to dye in the most environmentally-friendly way possible, while using products from my garden, nearby farms,  and other companies committed to sustainability.  My own dye garden includes indigo, cosmos, coreopsis, marigolds, and roses. Natural dying also has a long and rich history, and I find that the colors I get from natural dyes are unique from synthetic dyes in terms of the colors and in ways I can heighten or tone down the vibrancy.  I try to use natural dyes that have proven to be colorfast and lightfast, as well as up to multiple washes. I stay away from the more experimental dye stuffs that may not last as long.

How should I care for naturally-dyed fabrics?
Each Blue Dog Dye comes with a care instructions card. To keep your Blue Dog Dye for years to come:  Hand-wash in room temperature water (not too hot, not too cold) with a Ph-neutral and gentle detergent, like Eucalan. Regular detergent can be very harsh and will cause the dye to fade.
Line dry, and iron if needed.
Keep your Dye out of the sun to avoid color fading over time.
If your Dye is cotton/colored with clay, hand-wash it the first few times. After that, wash and dry normally. Direct light is okay for clay-dyed Dyes.All products are pre-washed and ironed prior to purchase.

Please note that indigo-dyed yarn and fabric can make your skin temporarily blue due to the friction of wearing or working with it. (Think your jeans and how they may run in the first few washes or turn your legs semi-blue!) This is totally normal and it comes off with soap and water. It is by no means permanent!

How did you get into natural dyeing?
As a longtime knitter, I started taking dyeing classes during the Covid pandemic, and I found dyeing my own yarn exactly the color that I wanted it to be incredibly satisfying. In a few months, I made dyeing a new hobby that started taking up my evenings and weekends. As I built my first dye garden, I fell in love with natural dyes, and there was no going back.

Do you take special orders?
Yes! If you have a pair of jeans that you’d like to re-dip in indigo or an old shirt or scarf that deserves a new life, I am happy to help you. Send me a message!