My favorite material to dye (other than yarn) is cotton flour sack towels. These are seriously the absolute best kitchen towels I’ve ever used. They are super absorbent and they take the natural dye beautifully.
Since I don’t want to just dye brown kitchen towels (boring), I decided to dye these towels with two different shibori fabric dyeing techniques: Itajime and Suji or Triangle and Accordion Folding.
I also decided to use an iron modifier to see if there would be a shift in the final dye color. This part is totally optional. If you don’t have any iron liquid made, just skip that part. (To learn more about making an iron modifier, see my post at www.FiberArtsy.com/how-to-ecoprint-on-paper/)
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
Flour Sack Towels
Acorns (4 or 5 cups at least)
Hammer
Old Strainer
Heavy String
Cook Pot dedicated to dyeing**
Alum Mordant
Iron Modifier (optional)
Old Tongs
Plastic Table Cover
** Do not use your regular pots and pans for dyeing projects. They may no longer be safe for food preparation. If you do a lot of yarn or fabric dyeing, head to your local thrift shop and pick up some cheap pots and pans.
Have a question about this project?
This is a project right up my alley! Who knew....anyways, the acorns I have but also, have you ever tried the hickory nuts? The squirrels are quick to crack them open but would the outer shell work maybe? Finally they'll become useful instead of another chore every other year ;-) Thanks for sharing!!
I have not tried hickory nuts but I bet they would work just fine! :)
Would this dye work on leather? I have a dark brown sofa that is showing wear.
I honestly don't know about acorns but I bet black walnuts would work on leather. Here's a discussion I found about it. http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=54114.0
How does the dye hold up in the laundry? I am worried it would bleed into other items in the washing machine. I wash my kitchen towels with my bathroom towels in hot water.
Use “color catchers” found in the laundry section of your grocery store.