Stroll through your local market’s produce section and load up on fresh berries and greens. No, we’re not tossing a salad… or even juicing. We’re coloring our world with plants! The vibrant yellows, purples, oranges, and pinks that give our favorite fruits and veggies their phytonutrients are also potent pigments. Natural dyes are environmentally friendly, easy to make, and produce stunning, unique results. If you’ve ever cooked with turmeric or peeled a pomegranate in a white shirt, you know exactly what we mean! So before you compost those colorful scraps, we’ve got a DIY you’ll be “dying” to try.
Natural fabric like yarn wool, silk, cotton, linen, and hemp
Instructions
Make Dye
Add your dye ingredients (gloves recommended), chopped if necessary, to a large pot. Cover with water and simmer for at least one hour (longer simmer will result in a more saturated color). Let cool.
Using cheesecloth, strain the liquid into a glass jar.
Dying Fabric
Wash and dry your fabric completely.
Prep your fabric with a mordant, which “fixes” the fabric and helps the dye adhere. Use salt (fruits and berries) or vinegar (veggies and plants). Bring ½ cup salt and 8 cups water or equal parts vinegar and water to boil. Add fabric and simmer for 1 hour. Rinse with cool water before applying dye.
For all-over color, fully submerge your fabric in the dye, being sure to swirl it around to evenly cover. Stir occasionally for several hours or overnight. Soak until desired color is achieved, keeping in mind that some of the dye will rinse out.
For a tie dye look, put dye in squirt-top bottles. Twist, fold, or rubber band your fabric. Squirt dyes onto fabric in desired patterns. Put in a ziplock bag and microwave for 2 minutes. Let rest overnight.
Remove your fabric from dye or plastic bag and rinse thoroughly under cold water until no more color is released. Dry completely. If your fabric allows, you can further set your dye in the dryer on high heat.
Notes
Mother Nature loves variety, so be mindful that every batch of dye you make — even with the same plant type — will turn out a slightly different shade. If matching is a must for you, make sure to dye all your items in the same batch.
