Tag Archives: natural fabric dye

How To Dye Cotton Fabric Black Naturally

17th February 2022Natural Dyeing & Printingblue, DIY, natural fabric dye, tannin, tutorialLina

Cellulose fibers, like cotton, linen and rayon, are more difficult to dye with plants than protein fibers like wool and silk. It’s possible to dye cotton fabric black but it takes time: at least three days (or rather a week) from start to finish! Because you have to scour the fabric, extract the dye, dye the fabric, modify the color and overdye the fabric again. But even if it’s a lengthy process, it’s very budget-friendly and sustainable: Because you probably have the materials already at home or can gather them outdoors! Continue reading How To Dye Cotton Fabric Black Naturally →

Update Old Clothes With Fabric Dye

13th January 2020Refashionnatural fabric dye, upcycling, woolLina

You can easily update old clothes with fabric dye. Dyeing old clothes is such a fun, creative , cheap and eco-friendly way to give old clothes a new life! So make your old clothes new again with fabric dye!

I used simplicol fabric dye which is so easy to use. You simply toss your clothes and the fabric dye into the washer. Then wait for the clothes to “wash” and your clothes are dyed. It’s almost like Christmas because you never know what color they turn out to be! Continue reading Update Old Clothes With Fabric Dye →

10+ DIY Natural Fabric Printing Inks With Fruits & Vegetables

24th May 2017Natural Dyeing & Printingblue, blueberry, DIY, fruit, iron, mordant, natural dye, natural fabric dye, print, red cabbage, sloe, tutorial, upcyclingLina

Did you know that you can make your own fabric printing inks with things you’ll find in the nature? 😀

Learn how to make your own DIY natural fabric printing ink with fruits, such as sloe berries and bilberries, and vegetables, such as red cabbage and onions. Continue reading 10+ DIY Natural Fabric Printing Inks With Fruits & Vegetables →

DIY Red Cabbage Fabric Printing Ink

1st March 2017Natural Dyeing & PrintingDIY, natural dye, natural fabric dye, print, red cabbage, tutorial, upcyclingLina

A while ago, I printed fabric with leftover homemade natural blue food coloring (made with red cabbage & baking soda). But the print was very pale after washing. But this time I used just the thickened red cabbage juice without baking soda as DIY natural printing ink. Continue reading DIY Red Cabbage Fabric Printing Ink →

Red Cabbage Dye On Exposure To Air

22nd January 2017Natural Dyeing & Printingblue, green, natural dye, natural fabric dye, red cabbageLina

While I was making dye samples with leftover blue food coloring (made with red cabbage and baking soda) I noticed that the dye solution changes dramatically its color in 4 days. Continue reading Red Cabbage Dye On Exposure To Air →

Red Cabbage + Baking Soda – Print Samples

19th January 2017Natural Dyeing & Printingblue, DIY, green, natural dye, natural fabric dye, print, red cabbage, tutorial, upcyclingLina

I used leftover natural blue food coloring (made with red cabbage and baking soda) to make some print samples. I used a fork to print mini polka dots and a pattern which looks like rain. The color was dark green before I washed the fabric. Continue reading Red Cabbage + Baking Soda – Print Samples →

Red Cabbage + Baking Soda – Dye Samples

10th January 2017Natural Dyeing & Printingblue, DIY, mordant, natural dye, natural fabric dye, red cabbage, tutorialLina

Today I made more dye experiments with red cabbage. This time I made a dye bath with red cabbage and baking soda. I diluted leftover homemade blue food coloring (made with red cabbage and baking soda) with water. The food coloring turned the water dark blue, almost black. Continue reading Red Cabbage + Baking Soda – Dye Samples →

DIY Natural Sloe Laundry Ink

15th December 2016Natural Dyeing & PrintingDIY, laundry, natural dye, natural fabric dye, sloe, tutorial, underwear, victorianLina

Ever since I’ve read a Victorian recipe for indelible laundry ink made with sloes, I wanted to try it out. The homemade and natural sloe laundry ink is easy to make, and it actually works! 😀 Continue reading DIY Natural Sloe Laundry Ink →

DIY Bandhani (Indian Tie Dye)

8th November 2016Natural Dyeing & Printingindian, natural dye, natural fabric dyeLina

A while ago I tried to make bandhani – an Indian tie dye technique. Fabric is wrapped with yarn before dyeing to make small dots. Then I dyed the fabric yellow with onion skins and turmeric.

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) Natural Dye Experiment

7th November 2016Natural Dyeing & Printingblue, DIY, green, natural dye, natural fabric dyeLina

Some time ago, I tried to dye with bugleweed (Ajuga reptans). I brought the flowering bugleweed to a boil which turned the water blue. After letting the dye simmer for a few minutes, the water became green. Despite the promising colors, neither the blue nor the green water dyed wool yarn or cotton fabric. But the blue and green colored water is so pretty, isn’t it?