Natural Dying with the Avocado Plant and others

How To Dye with Natural Plants

Step 1: Mordanting

  1. Collect cellulose and protein fibers/materials. Remember to stick to natural, organic fibers! These include: cotton, muslin, silk, linen and wool.
  2. Weigh fibers while they are dry.
  3. Document Weight Of Fiber.
  4. Wash fibers/materials with PH neutral soap.
  5. Mordant materials: Cellulose = Tara Powder. Protein = Aluminum Acetate.Do not forget to document mordant amount!
  6. Cellulose= Use 8-10% of WOF for mordant amount. Protein= Use around 15% of your WOF for mordant amount. Measuring mordants with a kitchen scale can be very helpful to make sure your measurements are exact as possible!
  7. Put mordant in a pot with about 2 quarts of water. Make sure to put enough water so the fibers can move freely..Record amount of water.
  8. Stir.. let mordant dissolve.
  9. Turn on stove to a simmer.
  10. Wet fibers, do not put dry fibers in mordant bath.
  11. Insert wet fibers into mordant bath.
  12. Let simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.
  13. Stir contents inside pot every so often.
  14. Turn off stove and allow your mordant bath to cool down.
  15. Strain the water out of the plant cooked.

Step 2: Extracting Dye from Plant

  1. Collect plant(s), any!
  2. Document Weight Of Plant (WOP).
  3. Put plant material(s) into a pot with enough water to allow the plant to move freely.
  4. Turn on stove to a simmer.
  5. Let simmer for 1-2 hours, timing differs per plant.
  6. Stir contents inside pot every so often.
  7. Turn off stove.
  8. Prepare space, collect jars that can be used for individual dye baths.
  9. Set aside plant materials and do not forget to compost unwanted plant parts!

Step 3: Manipulating Dye Baths

  1. Strain the water out of the plant cooked.
  2. Pour equal amounts of the water from extraction into as many jars as you please.
  3. Now we will be adding additives Additives alter the PH of dye baths, therefor shifting the original color!
  4. Let additives completely dissolve before adding materials.
  5. Allow materials to sit in manipulated dye baths for as long as you please.
  6. Mix/shake each jar every so often.
  7. Take out materials from manipulated dye baths.
  8. Wash materials with cool water.
  9. Allow materials to dry, avoid drying materials in or around direct sunlight.

List of Additives:

  1. Washing Soda/ Soda ash. Be careful with washing soda,it is very strong! Due to its very high PH of 11.
  2. Vinegar, Citric Acid and juice from citrus. These are all the same!
  3. Cream Of Tar Tar
  4. Iron. Be careful with Iron, it is very strong!
  5. The list goes on and on..

Visit these websites to learn more!

Have fun dying with plants!!!