Dyeing with Food Waste: Turn Kitchen Scraps into Natural Dyes
At studioEVIG, we’re always looking for sustainable ways to create vibrant colours from nature. One of our favourite methods to experiment with is using food waste as natural dye. With everyday kitchen scraps like onion skins, avocado pits, walnut husks, tea, and pomegranate skins, you can turn what would normally be thrown away into rich, beautiful colours for your textiles. Not only is this eco-friendly, but it’s also a fun way to explore the magic of natural dyeing right at home.
In this blog post, we’ll share how to create stunning hues from food waste, while also highlighting the essential preparation steps of scouring and mordanting to ensure long-lasting, vibrant colours.
Why Use Food Waste for Dyeing?
Using food waste as a natural dye source is not only sustainable but also surprisingly effective. The colours derived from food waste are varied, ranging from earthy browns and delicate pinks to vibrant oranges and soft yellows. By repurposing kitchen scraps, you’re reducing waste and tapping into nature’s colourful potential.
Here are a few of the most popular food waste dyes and the colours they produce:
Onion Skins (Yellow & Red Onions): A kitchen staple, onion skins produce warm, golden yellows and rich oranges. Red onion skins can give you pinkish or brown tones depending on the fibre and mordant used.
Avocado Pits & Skins: Surprisingly, avocado pits and skins can create beautiful soft pinks and peach tones. The natural tannins in avocado make it a strong dye material, especially when used on properly mordanted fabrics.
Walnut Husks: Walnut husks are a powerhouse for creating deep, earthy browns. They contain high levels of tannins, which can act as a natural mordant, making this dye particularly effective for lasting colour.
Tea: If you’ve ever noticed tea stains, you know how well it dyes! Dyeing with tea is easy, inexpensive, and gives your textiles a rich earthy vintage colour.
Pomegranate Skin: Give pomegranate rinds a second life as natural dye sources. Simmer them to extract their green-yellow colour. It shifts to olive and dark grey with iron, ideal for adding bold statements to your textile creations. Harness the tannin-rich power of pomegranate in your dye bath for lasting, eco-chic results.
How to Dye with Food Waste
To get started with dyeing your fabrics or yarn with food waste, here’s a simple step-by-step process:
Collect your food scraps: Save your onion skins, avocado pits, walnut husks, tea bags, and pomegranate peels. Store them in a dry place until you have enough to dye with.
Prepare your dye bath: Boil your food waste in water to extract the colour. Let it simmer for about an hour to fully release the pigments, then strain out the solids to create your dye bath.
Add your fibres: Once your dye bath is ready, add your pre-scoured and mordanted fibres to the pot. Let the fibres soak in the dye, maintaining heat if necessary, until you reach the desired colour.
Rinse and dry: Once your fibres have absorbed the dye, rinse them thoroughly and hang them up to dry.
The Importance of Scouring and Mordanting
Before you start dyeing with your food waste, it’s critical to scour and mordant your fibres. These two steps ensure that your dye bonds well with the fabric, making the colours more vibrant and long-lasting.
Scouring:
Scouring is the process of thoroughly cleaning your fibres to remove oils, waxes, and other residues that can block the dye from penetrating. Without scouring, your fabric may take on dye unevenly or lose colour more quickly. It’s especially important when dyeing with natural materials like food waste because the natural pigments can be subtle, and you’ll want them to adhere as much as possible.
For plant fibres like cotton and linen, we recommend using a gentle detergent or soda ash. For animal fibres like wool, a mild soap or wool-specific cleanser will do the trick. Once scoured, your fibres are ready to take on the dye.
Mordanting:
Mordanting involves treating your fibres with a substance that helps the dye bond to the fabric. Without a mordant, many natural dyes won’t adhere properly, meaning your beautiful colours may fade after the first wash. Common mordants include alum, iron, and tannins, each of which can affect the final hue of your fabric.
For example, alum is a popular mordant that helps produce brighter colours, while iron can darken or “sadden” the shades, giving them a more muted, earthy tone. For walnut husks or pomegranate peels, which already contain natural tannins, you might not need an additional mordant. However, for more delicate pigments like those from avocado pits, mordanting with alum will enhance the colour and longevity.
Save Time with Pre-Mordanted Textiles
If you love the idea of dyeing with food waste but want to skip the prep work, we’ve got you covered! At studioEVIG, we offer a range of pre-mordanted textiles and yarn, making it easier than ever to jump straight into dyeing. Our fibres are carefully prepped to absorb natural dyes beautifully, so you can focus on experimenting with colours and enjoying the process.
Try Our Free Dye Journal!
As you explore the world of natural dyeing with food waste, keeping track of your process is key to getting consistent results. That’s why we’ve created a free Natural Dye Journal to help you record your dye recipes, fibre preparations, and colour outcomes. Download your free copy here, and start building a valuable reference as you experiment with different food waste dyes!
Dive Deeper with Our Scouring & Mordanting E-Book
Ready to master the art of preparing your fibres? Our new Scouring & Mordanting for Natural Dyeing e-book is packed with step-by-step instructions, expert tips, and everything you need to know to make your natural dyeing projects a success. Whether you’re using food waste or plant dyes, this guide will ensure your colours are vibrant and long-lasting.
✨ Grab your copy here and start creating beautiful, sustainable colours with confidence.
In Summary
Dyeing with food waste is an eco-friendly and fun way to create stunning natural colours from materials you already have at home. From the golden hues of onion skins to the soft pinks of avocado pits, the possibilities are endless. Just remember – to get the best, long-lasting results, proper scouring and mordanting are essential steps in the process. And if you’re looking to make things even easier, our pre-mordanted textiles and detailed e-book are here to help you on your dyeing journey.
Happy dyeing, and don’t forget to download your free Natural Dye Journal to keep track of your colourful experiments! 🌿
