Today’s post is a little bit different than my usual. I recently got the urge to try some natural dyeing. It’s definitely something that seems right up my alley! I love trying different crafty, creative things, and of course I love sewing and fabric. And natural dyeing just combines all those things into one package! 🙂

I started with some natural (i.e. undyed and unbleached) 100% linen fabric. I also gathered some other supplies. I decided to try using dried hibiscus flowers and red onion skins as the sources of my natural colors. And you’ll see what happens in the video, but I found that the results were not what I expected color-wise!

I also used alum mixed with cream of tartar as my mordant – which is basically needed to help the fabric retain its color after dyeing. Based on my reading, if you don’t use the mordant the color will come out in the washer. Once again, you’ll see what happens in the video…

All in all, this was a really fun experiment and I loved playing around with dyeing my fabric. I will probably try some other types of dyes in the near future – I’m thinking avocado pits/skins, and maybe coffee. Next time though, I think I will bleach my fabric first so I’m working with more of a blank slate color-wise!

Now let’s get into it! Down below you’ll find a list of the things I used in this process as well as the video taking you through the whole adventure!

What you need

*This list contains affiliate links for your DIYing convenience, so I receive a small commission if you buy something through my links. This really helps to support my site so I can keep creating DIY tutorials to help you create your dream wardrobe.

Video

Alright, here’s the video! And I just want to say, I am NOT an expert on natural dyeing. This was my absolute first attempt EVER at doing anything like this, so you’ll be following along with me on the journey in this video. And if you happen to be experienced at natural dyeing, I would absolutely LOVE to hear from you on how I could improve my results! 🙂

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed coming along with me on my first adventure with natural dyeing! I had a lot of fun with this process. If you want sewing and DIY tips, tricks, and tutorials – I would love to have you subscribe to my email newsletter to get new posts and other fun things delivered to your inbox.