• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • terms
  • contact
  • giving

England, Naturally

  • home
  • about
  • press

How to Make Your Own Dyes (naturally)

Creativity Matters+ Looking Good

natural kitchen dyes

Making your own natural dyes is a lovely way to craft your own projects, from clothes to home furnishings. Nature provides all the colour glory you need, without need to use chemical dyes. Conventional textile dyes often contain toxic chemicals (in India, some street dogs have turned blue, from bathing and drinking water from rivers where dye used to make denim jeans ends up in the water). Around 90% of clothes use sythetic dyes, which use hundreds of tons of water and create a ‘toxic chemical soup’ of waste. Rivers and streams in the main fashion-producing countries like Bangladesh have turned black, due to the dirty water supplies. This of course also harms wildlife that live in them. Azo-dyes are often used for fast fashion, which cause health concerns. Just watch for some ‘eco dyes’, as many still use chemicals to bind the ‘natural colours’.

Common natural dyes include onion skins, chamomile, comfrey and nettles.  Keep natural dyes away from pets, as some contain toxic ingredients like acorns, avocado and toxic plants.

Natural Kitchen Dyes shows how to use vegetable peels to create blush pinks and peaches, fruit skins to make lemon yellows, a green dye sourced from carrot tops, dried spices and used tea bags to create vibrant yellows, rich terracottas and deep browns. Learn how to dye fabric and find 10 eco conscious projects to show off the natural dyes, and help to eliminate waste. Several projects use waste that would otherwise be composted or recycled like old cloths (turned into bags and patchwork floor cushions) to dried pulses past their expiration date, to make a beaded necklace.

fibershed

Fibershed is a book by natural dyer and weaver Rebecca Burgess, who has started a ‘local textile movement’ in California. Rather than importing toxic chemical dyes and fabrics, crafters grow and use locally grown fabrics like flax and hemp, and use natural dyes to give different colours. A wonderful idea to help stop pollution and climate change (from flying in fabrics) and create skilled local artisan jobs.

botanical inks

Botanical Inks shows you how to transform foraged wild plants, garden produce and recycled food into dyes and inks. Extract environmentally sustainable colour from the landscape, and use it to create natural dyes for textiles, clothing and paper. The book covers surface application techniques, bundle dyes, wood-block and screen printing.

You may also like

← Previous Post
The Benefits of Decluttering Your Life
Next Post →
Discover The Benefits of Art Therapy

About England, Naturally

An online source of inspiration, with helpful posts for community-focused, zero-waste and plant-based lifestyles.

Primary Sidebar

A Warm Welcome

laptop in garden Georgia de Lotz

At this site, find inspiring posts for community-focused, zero-waste and plant-based lifestyles. Make yourself a pot of tea,  enjoy browsing and find something interesting to forage!

Download Natural Reader to listen to posts (with dyslexic-friendly font).

Popular Posts

It's Easy to Be Vegan in London!
Moving Mountains Plant-Based Meat Alternatives
The Most Ethical Broadband Companies
Where to Buy Vegan One-Pot Ready Meals

find more

Categories

  • Animal Friends
  • Creativity Matters
  • Do What You Love
  • Ethical Money
  • Family Matters
  • Feeling Good
  • Getting Around
  • Home Comforts
  • In the Garden
  • Looking Good
  • Make a Difference
  • Save the Planet
  • Special Days
  • The Natural World
  • Uncategorized
  • Veggie Eats
  • Your Community

Image Credits

Photo by Georgia de Lotz

Pin button by The Dutch Lady Designs

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Footer

buy Isla

Does Isla look like the perfect theme for you? No need to wait! You can get it on the Code + Coconut website right away!

Buy Isla

Paul Kingsnorth

We are the first generations to grow up surrounded by evidence, that our attempt to separate ourselves from nature has been a failure.

I wonder if every animal is a spirit. If they are all spirits sent to you? And how you treat them, is what you are.

find more

Copyright © 2022 · England, Naturally

Isla Theme by Code + Coconut