How to Make Fabric Dye With Acorns

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.

The first thing you have to do is mordant your towels. (See https://www.fiberartsy.com/natural-dyeing-dandelions/ for details on how to mordant cotton)

MAKE THE ACORN DYE STOCK

Smash your acorns lightly with a hammer. Place them in a pot with water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for at least an hour or two.

FOLD THE TOWELS

Once your towels are mordanted, fold them by any shibori or tie dye method you choose. Mine are accordion and triangle folded. (See the folding instructions at the link below)

Strain the dye stock and return the dye to the pot. Place your towels in the dye bath. I also added a skein of yarn.

Simmer and let cool completely. Wash your towels separately to remove excess dye. Hang to dry

I decided to make pillow covers out of my dyed towels. Check the blog for instructions on natural dyeing with black walnuts, dandelions and also eco printing.

Enjoy!

Annette

FiberArtsy

Full step by step instructions can be seen at FiberArtsy.com (link below)