Did you know you can make vivid, beautiful colors from things found in nature? Try natural tie-dyes this summer using fruits, vegetables, and plants. Beets make deep pinks and reds, turmeric produces a bright golden yellow, and blueberries create soft purples.
Tie-Dye with Nature
Here’s how to get started:
- Ask an adult to help you simmer your chosen plant material in water for 30–60 minutes until the water is deeply colored. Let it cool.
- Scrunch, twist, or fold a white cotton t-shirt or piece of fabric and secure it with rubber bands.
- Submerge the fabric in your natural dye bath and let it soak for several hours or overnight.
- Rinse, remove the rubber bands, and reveal your one-of-a-kind creation
Every batch turns out differently and the dye will wash out and fade unless you do a pre-treatment, but the variations are what makes it so fun. Nature never makes the same color twice, and the dye will change over time, like the seasons.
