Top 20 'Foraged-Fabric' Natural Dyeing Techniques to master in your Kitchen on Weekends - Goh Ling Yong
Welcome, creative souls, to the Goh Ling Yong blog, your weekend haven for all things handmade and heart-led. Have you ever looked at a pile of onion skins or the dregs of your morning coffee and seen not waste, but a world of color? If so, you've already taken the first step into the magical realm of natural dyeing. This isn't about complicated chemistry or expensive kits; it's about alchemy in your own kitchen, transforming everyday botanicals into stunning, one-of-a-kind textiles.
We call this practice 'Foraged-Fabric.' It's a philosophy as much as a technique. It’s about “foraging” from your refrigerator, your spice rack, your garden, and your local park. It’s about seeing the potential for beauty in the things we often discard. This practice connects us to the seasons, teaches us patience, and results in fabrics that hold a story—the story of a specific plant, a specific time, and your own creative touch.
So, this weekend, forget the endless scroll. Instead, let's tie on an apron, put a pot of water on the stove, and dive into the art of creating color from scratch. We’ve compiled the ultimate list of 20 foraged-fabric techniques you can master right in your kitchen. Get ready to turn your old cotton t-shirts, linen napkins, and silk scarves into bespoke works of art.
A Quick Note on Preparation
Before we begin, remember two golden rules for vibrant, lasting color:
- Scour your fabric: This means giving it a deep clean to remove any oils, waxes, or residues. Simmer your fabric in a pot with a pH-neutral soap (like Synthrapol or a simple, unscented dish soap) for about an hour, then rinse thoroughly.
- Mordant your fabric: Mordanting helps the dye bind to the fibers, ensuring your beautiful colors don’t just wash away. For protein fibers (wool, silk), alum is a great choice. For cellulose fibers (cotton, linen), a pre-treatment with a soy milk binder (see #19!) or a two-step process with tannin and then alum works wonders. Always use dedicated pots for dyeing, not the ones you cook food in.
Now, let's get to the fun part!
The Top 20 Kitchen Dye Techniques
1. Avocado Pits & Skins: The Millennial Pink Miracle
You know that perfect, dusty rose-gold color that designers swoon over? You can create it with avocado pits. It’s one of nature's most delightful surprises. The tannins locked inside the pits and skins release a spectrum of colors from the softest blush pink to a rich, earthy orange, depending on the avocado variety, water pH, and whether you add a splash of iron.
To begin, simply save your pits and skins, washing them well and letting them dry completely to prevent mold. When you have a good collection (5-10 pits for a small project), crush them lightly with a hammer (inside a cloth bag to contain the mess) and simmer them in a pot of water for at least an hour. You'll see the water transform. Strain out the solids, add your mordanted fabric, and let it simmer gently until you love the color.
Pro Tip: For deeper, richer colors, let the fabric cool down and sit in the dyebath overnight. The slow absorption deepens the shade beautifully.
2. Yellow Onion Skins: Sunshine in a Pot
Don't throw away those papery, golden-brown onion skins! They are one of the easiest and most rewarding dye sources available. They create a stunning range of colors, from vibrant, sunny yellows to deep, autumnal oranges and rich olive greens (with an iron modifier). The color is lightfast and works brilliantly on both wool and cotton.
Collect the dry outer skins of yellow onions in a paper bag until you have a generous amount—at least a pot full for a strong color. Pack them into your dye pot, cover with water, and simmer for an hour to extract the pigment. Strain the skins out, then add your wet, mordanted fabric to the glowing golden liquid.
Pro Tip: For a lovely mottled or tie-dye effect, don't strain the skins. Instead, wrap them directly against the fabric, roll it into a tight bundle, and steam it for an hour.
3. Black Tea: Timeless Tannin Tans
That humble bag of black tea in your cupboard is a powerhouse of tannins, making it an excellent and simple dye. It imparts beautiful shades of beige, tan, and soft brown, perfect for creating an antique or vintage look on fabrics and papers. Because it's so rich in tannins, it acts as its own mordant on protein fibers, though using an additional mordant will still enhance its staying power.
Simply brew a very strong pot of tea—use 10-20 tea bags for a medium-sized project. Let them steep for at least 30 minutes. Remove the bags, add your fabric, and simmer gently. The longer you leave it, the darker the shade will become. This is a fantastic first project for anyone new to natural dyeing.
Pro Tip: Try this on cotton lace or linen napkins to give them a timeless, heirloom quality.
4. Turmeric: The Bold & Brilliant Yellow
For an unapologetically bright, electric yellow, look no further than the turmeric in your spice rack. This root powder yields an intense, golden-saffron hue almost instantly. It's incredibly easy to use and provides a wonderful "wow" factor for weekend projects.
Just stir a few tablespoons of turmeric powder into a pot of hot water until it dissolves. Add your fabric and simmer. You will see the color take hold within minutes. Be aware, however, that turmeric is a "fugitive" dye—it's not very lightfast and will fade over time, especially in direct sunlight. Embrace its ephemeral nature and use it for items that aren't exposed to constant light, like scarves or decorative wall hangings.
Pro Tip: Wear gloves! Turmeric will stain your hands, countertops, and everything else it touches with the same brilliant yellow.
5. Red Cabbage: The pH Magic Show
Red cabbage is less of a dye and more of a chemistry experiment. It's famous for being a pH indicator, and its dye acts the same way. The initial violet dyebath can produce a spectrum of colors depending on the acidity or alkalinity of your water and any modifiers you use.
Chop up half a head of red cabbage, cover it with water, and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Strain out the cabbage. In its base state, you might get a greyish-blue. Add a splash of vinegar (acid) to push the color towards lavender and pink. Add a pinch of baking soda (alkaline) to shift it towards blue and even green. It's a fantastic way to learn about how pH affects natural color.
Pro Tip: Dye several small fabric swatches at once and add different modifiers to each little jar to see the incredible color range from just one plant.
6. Coffee Grounds: Rich, Earthy Browns
Your morning coffee ritual can extend into your creative practice. Used coffee grounds are an excellent source for rich, warm browns. The color is deep, inviting, and smells wonderful while you're dyeing. Like tea, coffee is rich in tannins and gives a lovely, even color.
Collect your used coffee grounds and either use them fresh or dry them for later. For a strong dyebath, use a generous amount of grounds (at least a cup or two). You can either simmer them directly in the pot with your fabric for a slightly textured look or contain them in a muslin bag for a clearer dye liquid. Simmer for an hour, then let the fabric steep for maximum color absorption.
Pro Tip: For a super-dark, almost-black color, dye your fabric with coffee first, then dip it into an iron bath (see #17).
7. Pomegranate Rinds: Muted Gold & Grey
The tough, leathery skin of a pomegranate is packed with tannins and yields sophisticated, muted colors. Depending on your mordant and fiber type, you can achieve anything from a soft, buttery yellow to a deep khaki green or a cool-toned slate grey. This is one of my personal go-to methods, which I often teach in workshops here at the Goh Ling Yong studio.
Chop the rinds into small pieces and simmer them for an hour or more. The water will turn a pale yellow. Add your mordanted fabric and continue to heat gently. To get those beautiful greys and greens, you'll need to add an iron modifier to the dyebath after you've achieved a base yellow.
Pro Tip: Dried pomegranate rinds are more potent than fresh ones. Let them dry completely before storing them for your dye projects.
8. Black Walnut Hulls: The Ultimate Dark Brown
For a deep, permanent, and lightfast brown, nothing beats black walnuts. The green outer hulls (not the shell of the nut itself) produce a color so potent that they were historically used to make inks and wood stains. This is a true foraged dye—you'll need to find a black walnut tree in late summer or early fall.
Safety First: Always wear heavy-duty gloves when handling black walnut hulls, as they will stain your skin for weeks.
Crack open the green hulls and cover them with water. You can either let them ferment in a bucket for a few days to develop the color or simply simmer them for a few hours. This dye is so tannin-rich it doesn't require a mordant to create a lasting color on any natural fiber.
Pro Tip: The dyebath can be reused multiple times, with each subsequent batch of fabric coming out a slightly lighter shade.
9. Marigold Flowers: Pure, Joyful Orange
The cheerful faces of marigold flowers in the garden are a gift that keeps on giving. Once they start to fade, deadhead them and save the flower heads for the dye pot. They produce an incredibly clear, joyful yellow-orange that is especially beautiful on wool and silk, making them glow as if lit from within.
Use fresh or dried flower heads. A large handful will be enough for a small project. Cover them with water, bring to a simmer for about 30-45 minutes, then strain. Add your fabric to the bright orange liquid and watch the magic happen.
Pro Tip: For a more golden, less brassy yellow, use only the petals and discard the green base of the flower.
10. Eucalyptus Leaves: Surprising Rust & Orange
Eucalyptus is a star in the world of natural dyeing, especially for eco-printing (see #18). The leaves, particularly from certain species like the Silver-Dollar Eucalyptus, release stunning shades of vibrant orange, deep rust, and rich terracotta when steamed or simmered.
Gather fallen leaves and branches after a windy day. You can either create a traditional dyebath by simmering the leaves in water for a few hours, or you can lay the leaves directly onto your fabric, roll it up tightly, and steam it. The second method will leave beautiful, clear prints of the leaves themselves.
Pro Tip: An iron mordant or a dip in an iron bath will shift the eucalyptus oranges and reds into deep, moody greys and browns.
11. Hibiscus Tea: Pinks & Purples
Dried hibiscus flowers, often found in herbal tea blends, are a fantastic source for pinks and purples. The color can be a bit sensitive, much like red cabbage, but the results are worth the experimentation. You can achieve lovely shades of lavender, mauve, and fuchsia.
Brew a very strong batch of hibiscus tea using a generous amount of the dried flowers. Strain out the solids and add your mordanted fabric. Be gentle with the heat, as too much boiling can dull the color. A gentle, warm steep is often best.
Pro Tip: Add a squeeze of lemon juice to your dyebath to brighten the pinks.
12. Spinach & Nettles: Elusive Greens
Achieving a true, lasting green is one of the holy grails of natural dyeing. While many green leaves contain chlorophyll, it isn't lightfast. However, you can get lovely, soft sage and mossy greens from plants like spinach and stinging nettles. The key is to use an iron mordant or modifier.
For spinach, blend a large bag with some water to create a slurry, then heat it gently. For nettles (wear gloves when harvesting!), chop them and simmer in water for an hour. Dye your fabric in the resulting liquid, and then dip it into a weak iron bath to "sadden" the yellow pigments and reveal a beautiful green.
Pro Tip: Dyeing fabric yellow first (with onion skins or marigolds) and then over-dyeing it in a weak indigo or woad bath is another classic way to achieve a vibrant green.
13. Rosemary: Soft Yellow-Greens
The aromatic rosemary bush in your garden can provide more than just flavor for your roast chicken. Its leaves and woody stems produce a lovely, subtle yellow-green color that is both earthy and fresh. It's a wonderful dye for creating gentle, muted tones.
Simply take a few large sprigs of rosemary, chop them up, and simmer them in water for about an hour. Strain the plant matter and add your fabric. The resulting color is soft and sophisticated, perfect for linen kitchen towels or cotton project bags.
Pro Tip: For a stronger color, let the rosemary steep in the water overnight before you even turn on the heat. This cold infusion can help draw out more pigment.
14. Dandelion Heads: Cheerful Yellow
That common weed popping up all over your lawn is actually a pot of gold. The bright yellow flower heads of dandelions can be used to create a cheerful, buttery yellow dye. This is a wonderful project to do with kids, as it involves a fun "treasure hunt" in your own backyard.
Collect a big bowl of just the yellow flower heads. Pack them into your dye pot, cover with water, and simmer for about an hour. The resulting liquid will be a bright, happy yellow. This dye works best on wool or silk that has been mordanted with alum.
Pro Tip: Pick the dandelions on a sunny day when the flowers are fully open to get the most pigment.
15. Red Onion Skins: Khaki Greens & Browns
While yellow onion skins give you gold, the skins from red onions offer a completely different palette. Instead of the expected red or purple, they often yield muted, earthy colors like khaki green, beige, and soft brown. The result is always a surprise, which is part of the fun.
Use them just as you would yellow onion skins. Collect the dry, papery outer layers, simmer them to extract the color, strain, and then add your fabric. Experiment by adding a little iron to the dyebath to see the color shift dramatically towards deeper olive and grey tones.
Pro Tip: Mix red and yellow onion skins in the same dyebath for a complex, multi-tonal brown.
16. Solar Dyeing: The Sun's Gentle Power
This isn't a specific plant, but a wonderfully passive technique. Solar dyeing uses the gentle heat of the sun to slowly extract color over several days or weeks. It's perfect for a sunny windowsill and requires almost no energy.
Simply fill a large glass jar with your chosen dye material (berries, flower petals, onion skins), add your mordanted fabric, and fill the jar with water. Seal the lid and place it in a sunny spot. Give it a gentle shake every day and watch as the color slowly leaches from the plants and infuses the fabric. This method produces softer, more nuanced colors.
Pro Tip: This is a great way to experiment with delicate flowers like rose petals or pansies, whose colors might be damaged by boiling.
17. The Iron Modifier: From Rust to Riches
An iron modifier, also known as an iron bath or "saddening" solution, is a key tool in a natural dyer's kitchen. It's not a dye itself, but a solution that you dip your fabric into after dyeing to dramatically shift the color. Iron reacts with the tannins in the dye, typically making colors darker, deeper, and shifting them towards greens, greys, and browns.
You can make your own iron water by simply placing a handful of rusty nails, screws, or steel wool into a jar of water mixed with a splash of white vinegar. Let it sit for a week or two until the water turns orange and rusty. To use it, dilute this concentrated solution with plenty of water (a little goes a long way!) and dip your dyed fabric in for just a few minutes.
Pro Tip: Always use a very diluted iron bath and pull your fabric out quickly. Leaving it in too long can make the fibers brittle over time.
18. Bundle Dyeing (Eco-Printing): Nature's Imprint
Bundle dyeing is a breathtakingly beautiful technique where you create direct prints of leaves and flowers on fabric. Instead of making a liquid dyebath, you scatter your plant materials directly onto a piece of mordanted fabric, roll it up tightly around a stick or copper pipe, and steam it.
The heat and moisture cause the plants to release their pigments directly into the fabric, creating stunning, detailed imprints. Flowers like cosmos and coreopsis, and leaves like eucalyptus and maple, work particularly well. This method is pure alchemy, and no two pieces are ever the same.
Pro Tip: A spritz of iron water on the fabric before you add the leaves can help create clearer, more defined prints.
19. The Soy Milk Binder: A Vegan Friend to Cotton
Dyeing cotton and linen can sometimes be tricky, as the color doesn't always bind as readily as it does to wool or silk. The solution? A soy milk binder. Soaking your cellulose fabrics in a diluted soy milk solution before dyeing helps the pigments adhere, resulting in richer, more permanent colors.
Simply blend one part soy milk with four parts water. Soak your clean, dry fabric in this mixture, wring it out, and hang it to dry completely. Repeat this process two or three times, letting the fabric cure for a few days before you dye it. The soy protein essentially "animalizes" the plant fiber, making it more receptive to the dye.
Pro Tip: This is a fantastic, non-toxic alternative to some of the more complex chemical mordants for cotton.
20. Beetroot: A Beautiful, Fleeting Pink
Beetroot produces the most gorgeous, vibrant fuchsia pink. It's a showstopper of a color, and it's incredibly easy to achieve. Simply chop up a few raw beets, simmer them in water, and you'll have an intensely colored dyebath in no time.
However, like turmeric, beetroot is a fugitive dye. It will fade with washing and exposure to light. So, why include it? Because it's a perfect lesson in the beauty of impermanence. Use it for projects that don't need to last forever—dyed play silks for children, temporary decorations, or simply for the pure joy of creating such a stunning color from a humble root vegetable.
Pro Tip: An alum mordant and a splash of vinegar will help the color be its brightest and boldest, even if only for a season.
Your Foraged-Fabric Adventure Awaits
The world of natural color is vast, beautiful, and waiting right in your kitchen. This list is just the beginning. The real magic happens when you start to experiment—when you mix onion skins with tea, when you drop a rusty nail into your marigold bath, when you see what happens to the color of the flowers growing in your own neighborhood.
Natural dyeing teaches us to slow down, to observe, and to find extraordinary beauty in the ordinary. There are no failures, only beautiful experiments and learning opportunities.
So, what will you try first? The dusty pink of avocados or the sunny yellow of onion skins? We would absolutely love to see what you create. Share your foraged-fabric projects on social media and tag us, using the hashtag #GohLingYongDyes. Let’s fill the world with a little more natural color, one weekend at a time.
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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