DIY: Natural Dyeing
By Jenn | January 20, 2009
So I went to Ikea this weekend, and bought two unbleached cotton bedspreads for a project I’ve been planning (over on the left side of that photo, there <-). Once I got them home I realized that, while I appreciate the environmentally-friendliness of the natural cotton, the color wasn’t exactly right for what I had in mind… so that started me thinking about dyeing the fabric.
I knew I was going to go the natural route so as not to get all involved with chemical dyes and their associated issues. I remembered that tumeric can be used as a dye, which a quick interweb search confirmed, so I was off and running!
I added about 4 ounces of tumeric to a pot of boiling water, and let that bubble around for about 15 minutes. I then poured the dye-water into my kitchen sink, added lots more hot water and the bedspread, and stirred it all up. I kept the fabric in the dye for a very long time– overnight, actually– with frequent forays into the kitchen to swish the fabric around and make sure all parts of it were submerged, unfolded, and absorbing the color.
The next day I removed the bedspread from the sink and washed it on cold, twice, to remove any excess dye, then hung it up to dry. The result is that mindblowingly gorgeous saffonesque color you see up above there, on the right– the color is that of a monk’s robe, and I am thrilled with the outcome! I’m not yet sure how colorfast this will be, but time and subsequent washes will tell…
Lesson learned: Dye will dye anything it comes in contact with, and not only what you’re aiming on. Keep this in mind, wear appropriate clothing, and use implements which either a. you’re fine with dying or b. are made of stainless steel and will not pick up the color.
Have you used any natural dyes? What’s your opinion/advice?
Related posts:
- Heavy Duty Stove Cleaning
- Tiny Choices Q&A: How do you wash dishes?
- Natural Drain Cleaning
- Super Natural Recipe Search
- Senegal: From Natural to Plastic in Three Years
- Tiny Choices Q&A: Natural Deodorant
- DIY: Natural Egg Dyes
Topics: Crafts/DIY |
it turned out so gorgeously! Go turmeric!
[…] Tiny Choices dyes with turmeric. […]
Right now, before you do anything else. Run that gorgeous piece of fabric through a cold water wash with a LOT of white vinegar. Let it sit in it a while — that will help to set the color. I’ve heard some people use table salt instead, but I haven’t tried that. The vinegar even works well with newly purchased chemically-dyed clothes — like black pants that always turn grayish too soon.
Thanks Holly! I just googled this too, and found that tumeric and walnut hulls (!) are two natural dyes which don’t need a mordant:
“Turmeric, a popular yellow spice, is a natural direct dye and does not need any fixative at all. “
Of course, it also says that the color will fade in the light, and that Tibetan monks redye their tumeric fabric each year. Oh well!
Hi, me again. I just googled the salt/vinegar question and found a HUGE controversy with some people advocating one or the other or saying neither work. So…I think vinegar works well, but you may want to read opposing viewpoints.
tumeric works well for dying Easter eggs too! See also blueberries, beets, etc…
[…] Choices demonstrates DIY Natural Dyeing. Check out how she used tumeric to liven up white bed […]
WOW. What a nice color. Excellent.
looking for natural dyes for bedspreads , industial lots.
pls. com back to me asap
rgds
zeev
I just love the way your bed spread turned out. How clever you are. Well done!