Natural Tie Dye

We are so excited to make natural tie dye with you from food scraps! Fear not - once we’re done dyeing, you can still put them in your compost. We recommend exploring the complexities and limitations of Bal Tashchit.

For more inspiration on natural dye, we recommend checking out the website of our mentors, Liz Spencer, The Dogwood Dyer and Rebeca Desnos. 

 
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Supplies:

  • Food scraps of choice*: (onion skins** or Avocado*** pits + skins) 

  • White garment or fabric made of cotton silk or wool 

  • Soy Milk

  • 1 stainless steel cooking pot with lid

  • Rubber bands

  • Popsicle sticks 

  • String (2-3 feet)

  • Steel tongs

 
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The Process:

The day before (optional process for stronger color):

  1. Soak your fabric in a pot of soy milk overnight. 

  2. Dry your fabric in the dryer. Heat will help the mordant to fix. 

Day of :

  1. Soak your fabric in soy milk. (for those who skipped the night before process)

  2. Boil your food scraps in a pot of water. Have the water only cover the food scraps by a few inches to make a stronger dye concentrate.

  3. With your popsicle sticks/ rubber-bands we will teach you some methods for different designs

  4. Tie your string around your secured cloth. Place your fabric into the hot dye pot keeping the string out for removal later. 

  5. The longer your fabric sits in the dye, the stronger the color will be. (Overnight is best)

The Next Day

  1. Unfold your fabric, rinse with cold water and mild soap. 

  2. Marvel at your beautiful finished product! 

  3. Iron your fabric to help trap in that color. 

 
 
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* Start saving these scraps now, and keep them in a bag in the freezer. 

** Yellow onion skins = Yellow

*** Avocado Pits + Skins = Pink (make sure there is no avocado flesh)