Make Your Own Natural Dyes for Fabric and Art
Fabric dyeing is an important process every fashion design student must know. Back in the day, traditional dyes were used. While they would do the job, they contained harsh chemicals that would rest in the fabric and pollute the environment at the same time. Today, fashion and apparel design courses are encouraging students to learn the art of natural dyes. Did you know? You could make your dyes at home. All you need is a few basic ingredients. For thousands of years, plant materials are known to colour objects. Dyeing fabrics is not just fun but also environmentally-friendly. It’s an activity that is enjoyed by kids and adults alike. It’s a fool-proof way to revive old clothes, and turn old linen into something trendy and usable.
If you want to start making your own natural dyes, this blog is for you.
Tips to Make Fabric Dyes with Food
Fruits, vegetables and flowers can be used to create natural dyes. The process is simple and the results you get are beautiful. However, before you get to the process, it’s important to check the fabric you’re dyeing. Cotton, linen and silk absorb natural dyes very easily and the outcome is great too. Synthetic fabrics on the other hand such as rayon and polyester are difficult to dye.
Colour Sources from Natural Materials
When it comes to organic ingredients, you can derive colour from various fruits and vegetables. They are ideal to make natural dyes. Even before you get into the dyeing process, it’s important to know which ingredient yields which colour.
- Red/Pink: Fresh beetroot, beetroot powder and pomegranates yield red colour. Pink rose petals and avocado pits can be used for pink colour. If you’re looking for a vibrant red or pink, use beets whereas hibiscus and avocados are ideal for a dusty rose.
- Orange: Carrot tops, paprika and turmeric are ideal for orange colour. You need to simmer and strain them to get a potent colour.
- Green: For green colour, it’s best to boil spinach or parsley for an extended period. Mint leaves and artichokes can also be used although they give a duller green.
- Yellow: Turmeric, onion skins, marigolds, sunflower petals and celery leaves yield the perfect yellow.
- Indigo: Red cabbage with baking soda yields a blue colour. You can even use blue berries, black berries, and black beans to get a sharp blue colour. Cabbage usually changes colour based on the ph.
- Brown: For light brown or a darker shade, use coffee, tea or walnut hulls. You need to soak or simmer the fabric in the colour for extended hours to get a rich colour.
There are many kinds of natural dyes. An array of materials can be used to make them. All you need to know is the basic process. Once you know that, you can even make dyes from other ingredients and flowers. To achieve a pigmented shade, you can further mix natural additives into it.
The Process
Now that you’ve selected the colour you want to create, it’s time to make your natural dye. Here is the recipe or process you need to follow:
- 1 cup of the fruit/vegetable
- 2 cups water
- 2-3 tbsp of vinegar/salt
Method
- Add the ingredients to the pan along with two cups of water. A larger batch will require more water.
- Next, you need to add a mordant. Vinegar or salt are ideal. You can even use avocados as they are rich in tannins which are natural mordants. A mordant enhances the wash and colour fastness of the fabric. When you use avocado for dyeing itself, you can skip the mordanting part of the process.
- Let the water simmer for at least an hour. The longer you keep it on heat, the richer the colour will be. Take the dye off heat and strain it. Discard the fruit/vegetable material and only keep the colour in a glass jar.
- To dye a particular fabric, first you need to dampen it. The longer you dip it, the richer and deeper the colour will be. If you want a particular effect, you need to tie the fabric in a certain area so that it does not catch colour. This is nothing but tie-dye. In order to form a resist-dye design, use rubber-bands, clothespins or masking tape.
Conclusion
Natural dyeing is a pretty satisfying process. It’s something taught in every fashion and apparel design course. However, in case of natural dyes, it’s important to remember that they fade quickly when washed multiple times. However, you can re-dye an item if needed and it will get back to its original form. Once the fabric dries, you can iron it on high-heat to set the colours permanently.
Are you excited to make your own dyes?
