Cochineal - Whole - 4oz

Cochineal is the female insect of Dactylopius coccus that colonize the prickly pear (nopal) cactus native to Mexico, Central and South America and the Canary Islands. Peru is currently the primary export country. This dye can be found in food, drugs and cosmetics. Cochineal has excellent light and washfastness and produces a powerful range of fuchsias, reds and purples. The dye is sensitive to pH and color changes can be achieved with different mordants and varying the pH of the dyebath.  Cochineal is naturally a very concentrated dye. 3-8% WOF is all thats needed for a medium depth of shade.  Mordanting:  Protein Fibers: use alum mordant at 15% WOF. Cellulose mordant with tannin at 8% WOF and then alum at 15%, or alum acetate at 8%. Adding cream of tartar at 6% WOF to the alum mordanting bath or the dyebath will shift the color more towards Christmas red. Adding iron at 2-4% WOF to either the mordanting bath or the dye bath will shift the color towards purple. Dyeing: The color need