Avocado skins, cabbage, onion skins and a multitude of other vegetables are ideal for vegetable dyeing. I let myself be tempted by this new trend with my damaged curtains: in no time they turned salmon.
Before/After:
Necessary material :
- Fabric to dye: I advise you to use natural materials such as cotton or linen so that the dye takes. - Avocado skins, onion skins, cabbage, sweet potato peelings, etc. : give way to your imagination and the plant waste you have on hand to try the experiment. The color will change depending on the amount of waste used. - A large saucepan.
How to proceed :
- Before dyeing make sure you have enough peelings or skins. You can place them in the freezer as you go, this will allow you to collect a large quantity. - Once you have obtained the desired quantity, wash your fabric in the washing machine and dry it (preferably in the open air). - Place your plant waste in a large saucepan and add water until you flood your plants. Cook everything over low heat for about an hour. You can leave the leather consistency longer or mix everything to obtain a darker color. - Once the dye has been made, filter the water using a fine cloth. This way, the pieces will be retained. - Place the fabric to be colored in a basin or box and pour the dye over it. Leave to act for several hours. I left the dye on my curtains for about 5 hours, mixing several times. Once you are happy with the color, remove your fabric and air dry it in the shade. As soon as it is dry, place it in the washing machine to set the color.