Have you ever wondered how your ancestors colored the fabrics of your family members' clothes? Maybe you're curious about "natural" colors and how to make them? This is the basis for starting your own natural dye experiment.
Step
Step 1. Collect dye plants when color quality is at its peak
The flowers should be fresh, the berries should be very ripe, not wilted.
Step 2. Break the material into small pieces and place it in the large pot you prepared to make fabric dye
You won't be able to use the pot for cooking anymore.
Step 3. Measure the number of plants and put twice as much water as the plants into the pot with the plants
Step 4. Bring the solution to a boil and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for at least an hour
Step 5. Strain the plants, and set aside the colored solution
Step 6. Put the cloth and in a color-binding solution such as salt water (1 part salt to 16 parts water) or vinegar water (1 part vinegar to 4 parts water)
Step 7. Allow the cloth to absorb the color-binding solution and simmer for an hour
Step 8. Remove the cloth from the binding solution and wring it out
Step 9. Put the wet cloth in the dye solution and simmer until the desired color on the cloth is achieved
A dry cloth will be lighter in color than when it was still wet, so dye it darker when it is still wet.
Step 10. Remove the fabric from the dye with rubber gloves (you want to dye the fabric, not your hands)
Step 11. Squeeze the cloth and hang it to dry
Step 12. Wash fabrics with natural dyes in cold water separately from other clothes
Tips
- Some plant materials can be toxic, check with a poison control center if you're not sure.
- See the link below for a color chart…there are so many variations that it's not enough to list them all in this article.
- Natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, muslin and wool are more amenable to natural dyes than synthetic fabrics.
Warning
- This type of dye usually does not fade in warm water. Wash in cold water and separate from light colors.
- Do not drink water with dyes.
