Plant materials have been used to color aim for K of years . proceed the long - standing custom by simmering up a dyestuff bath at home . Dyeing framework yourself is a fun manner to renovate honest-to-goodness clothes , parsimony shop linens , cloth napkins , or slip . you’re able to apply scraps from the produce aisle , including fruit peels and vegetable skin , or backyard finds like flower petals and acorns , for eco - friendly , inexpensive dye option . We ’ll show you how — but first , train the label on the objective you ’re dye . Cotton , linen paper , silk , and wool are the easy to dye , and the dye will absorb well than on synthetic material , such as polyester or rayon .

BHG / Michela Buttignol

Natural Dye Chart

remnant fruit and veggie materials , such as peels and skins , are idealistic for create instinctive cloth dyes in a variety of coloring material . The intensity and shade may vary from plant to plant , but you could broadly expect the travel along colours . Use this list of raw dye constituent , but do n’t hesitate to experiment with other token to create your own colors .

How to Make Natural Dyes

Once you ’ve chosen the colouration you ’d like to create , it ’s time to make your instinctive dyestuff . To do so , you ’ll need the following :

You ’ll need about one cup of your chosen chopped fruit or vegetable to bring on color . experience free to use extra for a more vivid dyestuff .

How to Use Natural Dyes

Protect your work surface with an old cloth or plastic mainsheet , and wear gloves to avoid staining your skin . First , use piss to wash the framework . This will help the dye soak into your fabric .

Next , souse your item into the dyestuff and wait . The longer you give it , the deeper and deep the colour will be and the more the dyestuff will propagate . If you need anombré effect , or only want to dye one section of the fabric , fold it and leave a blank section draped out of the dye bowl . Use safe bands , clothespins , or masking tapeline to form aresist - dye design .

When you ’re satisfied with the color and aim , take away your material from the natural dyestuff . Let it dry out whole , then Fe on high rut to set the colouration permanently .

Natural Fabric Dye Guide

Credit:BHG / Michela Buttignol

pastel-colored naturally dyed fabric in circle

gloved hand holding blue-green dyed fabric