Every dye recipe started as an experiment.
I
could honestly say the same about my scratch cooking. The difference
being that a bad experiment in the kitchen can taste pretty awful
whereas all color that is created from plants still turns out beautiful
in the end if you ask me. My goal is starting this series of work called
Palette/Palate is to pass on the knowledge i have gained as a natural
dyer over the years combined with my lifetime of cooking.
I want to say it straight away that i make plenty of mistakes, both in the kitchen and in the dye studio, but it's just a way to remind me that not all mistakes end up being bad. Occasionally i play with ingredients in a dye bath and the colors turn out amazing. Other times, the color ends up muddy and muted to a level that i cannot even decipher what the intention was with my color mixing. In the end, it's still a color.
I said earlier that my cooking is an experiment, which is true. I also made a comparison to dyeing being an experiment, which needs a bit more explanation as today i'm going to attempt to teach you a bit about dyeing to achieve a certain color. Dyeing can always be a fun experiment for anyone, but if that someone wants to achieve a certain color consistently then there are many factors which need to be carefully considered. I'll get a bit deeper into those considerations below, but for now let's just keep this topic of dyeing with avocado waste from cooking easy and fun. If you care to go deeper, then read further down the page or search with google to understand more deeply how detailed natural dyeing can be if you want it to be.
One
other note of great importance that i want to make VERY VERY CLEAR here
is that dyeing and cooking do not happen in the same place as a rule.
The DO NOT happen at the same time as a rule. They DO NOT happen with
same tools as as rule.
If
dyeing interests you more deeply after reading this offering and dyeing
with avocado waste then please be smart for your health and go buy a
different set of pots, tongs, wooden spoons, cheese cloth, strainer,
etc. Do your dyeing outside if you continue on past dyeing with avocado waste. And i'll say it again, eat before or after you have done your
artistic dye work, not during. Always wash your hands after working
with dyes as some plants and mordants are not good to ingest.
Working
with onion skins is safe for our purposes below. We will not be using a
mordant ( which is advised if you go more deeply into dyeing as it
creates a much better bond of the dye to the fabric and makes it
resistant to fading) which makes our exercise safe and easy to give you
an intro to natural dyes. If you become "hooked on dyeing" like i did
after using onion skins then make a small investment. Visit a thrift
store and get all that you need from the list below to make your own dye
studio.
A large stainless steel or non reactive pot*
A long wooden spoon*
A set of measuring cups
Pens and a notebook
Apron*
Heat source - hot plate*
Dye Material ( in our case avocado pits and skins)*
White vinegar (should you care to modify the dye bath to be brighter)
Digital scale*
Calculator*
Rubber Gloves (the longer the better IYAM)*
Protection for your work surface (tablecloth/canvas tarp/butcher paper)*
pH neutral soap (Dawn Liquid)*
Large Strainer
Thermometer
Music (optional but always amazing to have good music while working)
*Items you'll need to dye with avocado waste. The rest are suggestions for building up your dyeing tool collection.
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
Tips:
With these steps, you can create your own natural dye using avocado pits and transform your fabrics into beautiful, earthy hues! Enjoy the dyeing process and have fun exploring the world of natural color.
There are many things to consider when trying to create a certain color or color range with a plant dye (natural dye). While i might have made the inference above that dyeing and cooking are similar i actually believe dyeing is far more scientific if you want it to be which would actually make it a closer relative to baking. I suggest you dig in deeper here if any of the follow is interesting to you as so much info can be found at the links below from the talented dyers i have listed.
Water
and the alkalinity of that water will
have an influence on a final color of dye. To test this you can buy pH
strips to understand what levels your water lands on. You can then
elect to use it as is, or you can use a modifier to take it up or down
in pH. White Vinegar, citric acid, soda ash, baking soda are modifiers
that can help you make your water the perfect pH for your liking.
The same goes for the dye stuff itself because where it was grown, when it was grown and how it was grown can cause a dye from the same plant that is derived from two different regions to create two different colors. Think about a fine wine and why it is appreciated - for the soil and conditions it was grown in, as well as the varietal of grape. Some years you get better wine from that vine than others. The same goes for dye plants.
How the fabric or yarn is scoured (pre-washed) can also influence a final result. I suggest hand washing with a couple drops of dawn liquid soap ( not any fancy antibacterial business, just plain ol' dawn liquid) and maybe a tablespoon of some washing soda if you have it around. Make sure to rinse well after you wash your items.
How hot you make the dye bath can also influence the color. For Avocado skin and pit dye if you bring your pot to a hot boil you'll find that your colors become a bit darker, more muted, closer to an orange brown color, but if you lightly heat the dye bath you can garner a beautiful deep rose pink (180 degrees or less). I also find if initially heat the dye bath slowly and cool over night, then heat slowly again i get even deeper color. You just have to be super careful not to overheat too hot.
Whether you remove the dye stuff before dyeing or leave it in the pot can also influence your final color. Dye stuff left in the pot versus removing and straining can be a fun way to make unique patterns or color concentrations. It is truly experimental as the concentrated dye material will leave markings on your fabric or yarn. If you want to get a clean, clear dye color on your fabric i suggest you strain out your dye materials for the best result. The great thing about working with natural dyes is that you can take your leftover dye material after you make the dye and use it in your compost (in most cases- keep in mind some dye baths can be too acidic or otherwise and are best used away from plants or compost bins- do your own research here).
Palette/Palate is an exploration into using foodstuffs and food waste as a resource for cooking,learning, pleasure, and fun.
For more exciting dye stories check out the following expert natural dyers:
Special
thanks goes out to all the people above and below that inspire me,
provide me with flowers and plants to dye with, teach me, allow me to
use their land for my work, eat my food whether it's great or just
average, give me free advice and keep me motivated to move on.
Denis and Heather at Nehalem Kabin
David, Steve, Maggie and Eli at New Seasons Cedar Hills