Mordant - Créme of Tartar

Cream of Tartar is an essential dyeing auxiliary used as a mordant assistant and pH buffer in natural dyeing, particularly with protein fibres such as wool and silk. When used alongside alum, it helps stabilise the mordant bath, improving colour absorption and ensuring smoother, more even results. By gently adjusting acidity, cream of tartar helps protect delicate fibres from becoming harsh or brittle during the dyeing process. It also enhances the clarity and brightness of colours, allowing natural dyes to develop cleanly while maintaining a soft handle in the finished fibre.

This high-purity grade dissolves easily in hot water and provides consistent, reliable performance, making it suitable for both small studio use and larger-scale dye work.

Benefits

• Supports even mordanting when used with alum
• Helps soften fibres and prevent harshness
• Improves colour clarity and absorption
• Acts as a stable and reliable pH buffer
• Suitable for delicate protein fibres

Perfect For

• Wool and silk dyeing with natural or acid dyes
• Pre-mordant bath stabilisation alongside alum
• Professional and home studio textile projects

Technical

• 100% pure Potassium Hydrogen Tartrate
• Used as a mordanting assistant with alum to improve dye uptake
• Softens wool and silk during mordanting, preventing harshness
• Enhances colour brilliance, uniformity, and fastness
• Dissolve 6–8 g per litre of hot water; add to alum mordant bath before fabric immersion