Family Time TO DYE FOR
With a few simple steps and a jar of turmeric you can create a unique T-shirt of your own design
TIE dye is a great way to bring an old cotton garment back to life.
If you love this look but hate the thought of using chemical dyes don’t worry – you can create a whole range of colours using vegetables and plants.
People have been using natural dyes for centuries. Beetroot makes wonderful pink shades and red cabbage can be chopped up to make purple or combined with baking soda to make blue. Avocado pits create a subtle peach colour while onion skins, tea and coffee make shades of brown. Spinach can be mashed up for green hues.
One of the easiest natural dyes to try is turmeric. This golden spice can make a beautiful, summery yellow.
Caution: Make sure you are wearing old clothes and rubber gloves for this activity. Turmeric is not toxic but it will stain pretty much anything it comes into contact with including clothing, skin, kitchen surfaces, containers, utensils and sinks. Ask an adult to help you. I used a stainless steel saucepan and sink. I also used an old wooden spoon, which is now yellow forever!
TURMERIC TIE DYE
You will need: A cotton garment, table cloth or tea towel; Elastic bands or string; a small jar of turmeric; salt; water; a wooden spoon; a large bowl; a large, stainless steel saucepan; a hob; rubber gloves, old clothes to wear
METHOD
1. Soak your fabric by running it under the tap. Squeeze out excess water leaving it damp. For a tie dye effect, use elastic bands or string to gather your material (pictures 1 and 2). You can make many different patterns, depending upon how you gather the fabric and where you put the bands. Experimenting is part of the fun.
2. Fill a bowl with warm water and add two tablespoons of salt until it dissolves. Immerse your fabric in the bowl of salty water and leave to soak for an hour.
3. While your fabric is soaking, you can prepare your dye bath in a large saucepan. Add a tablespoon of turmeric per litre of water (picture 3). The more turmeric you use, the stronger your colour will be. Stir well. Simmer on the hob on a low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat.
4. Lift your fabric out of the salt water and squeeze excess water out. Transfer your fabric to the dye bath (picture 4) and poke it under the surface with a wooden spoon. Stir occasionally to ensure the dye gets into the fabric. For a good strong colour, leave to soak for at least six hours.
5. Use a wooden spoon to lift your fabric out of the dye bath and rinse it with cold water. Turmeric can stain surfaces such a worktops and sinks so, if your sink is not stainless steel, you could rinse it in a container of cold water outside.
6. Take off the elastic bands to reveal your pattern (picture 5). Rinse your garment thoroughly until the water runs clear. Leave your garment to dry. Avoid hanging it in full sun as this will cause the colour to fade. As the fabric dries, the shade will lighten.
Hand wash your garment after wearing to avoid colour transfer.
Any leftover dye can be stored in glass jars in the fridge and should be used within 1-2 weeks.