An easy way to dip your toes into the world of botanical dyeing is by raiding your pantry. You can create all natural dyes that use up kitchen scraps or salvage fruits and veggies on the verge of going bad. One of the most fascinating aspects of botanical dyeing, to me at least, is that some fruits, veggies, and herbs can create colors you wouldn’t expect them to! Test your natural dye know how with this fun quiz.
If you’d like to try your hand at natural dyeing, we offer a wide range of undyed yarns and fibers. Using the same dye on different materials can produce vastly different results. This can be a source of frustration for some folks, but I prefer to embrace the chaotic nature of these botanical dyes. Grab a few different bases so you can see how the dyes differ!
Botanical dyes can also be used for other things. Coloring fabrics and old clothes is a great way to breathe new life into them. Combine your natural dyes with a bit of cornstarch and lotion to make all natural face paints. Or use your new dyes to color edible items like frostings and eggs when it gets closer to Easter!
If you decide to go down the rabbit hole of natural dyeing, be sure to do some more research. The rich hues of natural dyes can fade and oxidize over time without dye fixatives. Luckily, you almost certainly have one such fixative on hand – salt!
There’s so much to explore in the world of botanical dyeing. Where will you start first? We would love to hear more about your journey in the comments below or you can share with us on our social media pages.
