Natural hand-dyeing with plants has been a popular post on Pinterest. I decided to experiment with avocado skins. I am quite pleased with the results: a vintage dusty rose color. I used white muslin fabric and beige lace. Here are some things that I learned:
- Use a stainless-steel pot that is dedicated to hand-dyeing.
- Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the water. Vinegar acts as a fixative for the dye.
- Boil the skins for about 25-40 minutes. I used skins from two avocados for my experiment.
- Strain the resulting dye and discard the skins.
- Boil the fabric for about 25-40 minutes in the dye water, depending on the desired shade that you want.
- For a darker rose-colored shade, allow the fabric to seep in the dye overnight.
- Rinse the fabric in cold water.
In my experiment, I did not drain the skins. I boiled the skins and fabric in one pot. This technique resulted in small brown spots on the fabric. I'm not concerned about the spots because I wanted a vintage, aged look.
I plan to use my hand-dyed fabric in a mixed-media art piece.
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