PLANTS TO DYE FOR

AVOCADOS

Avocado skins and stones make a pale pink or peach dye. For a deeper pink, use avocados with skins that are almost black with a pink tinge.

Remove the flesh and leave the skins to dry. Once dry, store in a paper bag or freeze, if necessary, until you have enough to use. Start with 4 stones and 4 skins and see how you go.

ONION SKINS

The skins of brown onions can produce the palest yellow to medium nutmeg-brown.

Red onion skins produce a colour ranging from pinky caramel to earthy brown, depending on how many skins you use and the type of fabric. For example, protein fibres (eg, silk, wool) dye in a spectrum from pale to medium nutmeg brown. Cellulose fibres (such as cotton) will produce pale pinks.

CABBAGE (RED)

Produces a purple shade but changing the pH of the water results in different colours. For purple, use water – if you want a pinker shade, add vinegar. For blues and greens, add baking soda. Experiment with the quantities for different shades.

BERRIES

Use any berry – blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry. Start with 1 cup of berries and add more for deeper shades.

BEETROOT

You can obtain hues from dusty pink to vibrant pink, depending on how many roots you use and how long you soak the fabric.

BLACK BEANS

Black beans produce beautiful shades of blue. Use dried beans – available from wholefood and speciality stores – or grow your own. Don’t throw away the beans after soaking them – they can be cooked and eaten.

BLACK TEA

For warm brown shades, use black tea. It’s easiest to use teabags as the dye won’t require straining. Use 3-5 teabags or more for a deeper shade.

TURMERIC

Depending on the intensity you require, add ¼ to ¾ cup of turmeric powder to a saucepan of water to make pale to vibrant yellows.

WALNUT NUTS & LEAVES

The English walnut’s green husks and shells create a light to dark brown colour. If you use the leaves, you get

a creamy fawn.