Top 7 'Kitchen-Scrap-Color' Natural Dyeing Techniques to master for upcycling old fabrics on weekends. - Goh Ling Yong
Have you ever stood in your kitchen, about to toss a handful of onion skins or a used-up avocado pit, and felt a tiny pang of wastefulness? We’ve all been there. These humble scraps, often destined for the compost bin, hold a vibrant secret—a world of colour just waiting to be unlocked. This isn't about complex chemistry or expensive kits; it's about the simple, alchemical process of transforming kitchen "waste" into beautiful, one-of-a-kind textiles.
Welcome to the wonderful world of natural dyeing. It’s a craft as old as time, a way to connect with the resources around us and breathe new life into forgotten items. That old white t-shirt with a faint stain? That linen napkin that’s seen better days? They are blank canvases for your next creative adventure. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that creativity and sustainability go hand-in-hand, turning everyday moments into opportunities for making something beautiful.
This weekend, let's skip the store-bought dyes and dive into our kitchens. We’re going to explore seven incredible techniques for creating a stunning palette of colours using nothing but common kitchen scraps. Get ready to transform your old fabrics and your perspective on what you might otherwise throw away.
Before You Begin: The Three Golden Rules
Before we jump into our colourful list, let's cover three quick but crucial steps for successful natural dyeing:
- Choose Natural Fibers: Natural dyes bond best with natural, protein-based (animal) or cellulose-based (plant) fibers. Think cotton, linen, silk, wool, and hemp. Synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon won't absorb the colour.
- Scour Your Fabric: This is just a fancy word for giving your fabric a very deep clean to remove any oils, waxes, or residues from the manufacturing process. Simmer your fabric for about an hour in a pot of water with a bit of pH-neutral soap (like Synthrapol or a simple, unscented dish soap) and a teaspoon of washing soda. Rinse well.
- Mordant Your Fabric: A mordant is a natural substance that helps the dye bind to the fabric, making the colour more vibrant and permanent. For a simple, beginner-friendly, and non-toxic approach, try a soy milk mordant. Soak your clean, damp fabric in a solution of one part unsweetened soy milk to three parts water. Wring it out and let it dry completely. Repeat this process two or three times for the best results.
Now that our fabric is prepped and ready, let's get to the fun part!
1. The Avocado Surprise: From Stone to Dusty Rose
If there's one natural dye that truly feels like magic, it's the humble avocado. You would never guess that the hard, brown pit and papery skins could produce the most beautiful shades of dusty rose, millennial pink, and soft terracotta. It's the perfect introduction to the unexpected beauty hidden in our food waste. The tannins in the pits and skins are what create these gorgeous, warm hues.
To get started, you'll need to collect the pits and skins from about 5-8 avocados. Clean them thoroughly to remove any green flesh, which can muddy the colour. You can store them in the freezer until you have enough. When you're ready, place the clean pits and skins in a stainless steel pot, cover them with water, and bring them to a gentle simmer. You’ll notice the water slowly turning from orange to a deep red. Let it simmer for at least an hour, or until you love the colour of the dyebath.
Pro-Tip: Don't boil the dyebath, as high heat can dull the pinks and push them towards brown. A slow, gentle simmer is key. Once your dyebath is ready, strain out the pits and skins, and add your pre-mordanted, damp fabric. Let it simmer gently in the dye for another hour, then turn off the heat and let it steep—overnight if you can—for the deepest, richest colour.
2. Onion Skin Gold: Sunshine from the Pantry
This is perhaps the most accessible and rewarding natural dye of all. Yellow and red onion skins, which we peel and discard without a second thought, create a stunning range of colours from sun-kissed yellow and vibrant gold to rich, rusty orange and deep brown. The paper-thin skins are packed with colour and release it easily, making this a fantastic project for beginners.
Start collecting the dry, papery outer skins of your onions in a bag or jar. You'll want a good handful, enough to loosely fill about a quarter of your dye pot. Just like with avocados, cover the skins with water, bring to a simmer, and let them steep for about an hour to extract the pigment. Yellow onion skins will yield bright yellows and oranges, while red onion skins will give you deeper, earthier tones, sometimes with a hint of khaki.
Pro-Tip: For a beautiful, mottled pattern, try "bundle dyeing." Lay your damp, mordanted fabric flat, sprinkle the onion skins directly onto it, roll it up tightly like a sausage, and tie it securely with string. Steam the bundle for an hour, then let it cool completely before unrolling to reveal a unique, eco-printed design. This method captures the direct imprint of the skins on the fabric.
3. Turmeric Power: The Quickest and Brightest Yellow
While not technically a "scrap," turmeric is a kitchen staple that provides nearly instant gratification. If you want a bold, unapologetically bright yellow, turmeric is your answer. Its main compound, curcumin, is an incredibly potent pigment that stains fabric with brilliant intensity. This is a great one to do with kids because the results are fast and dramatic.
Unlike other dyes that require long simmering times to extract colour, turmeric works almost immediately. Simply add a few tablespoons of turmeric powder to a pot of water, stir well to dissolve, and bring it to a simmer. Add your damp, mordanted fabric and watch it turn a vibrant yellow right before your eyes. Simmer for 30-60 minutes, stirring occasionally for even coverage.
A Note on Lightfastness: It's important to know that turmeric is a "fugitive" dye, meaning it's not very lightfast. Its brilliant colour will fade over time, especially with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Think of it as a beautiful but temporary burst of sunshine. It's perfect for items that aren't used daily or for projects where a gentle, faded look is desired later on.
4. Red Cabbage Chemistry: From Purple to Blue and Pink
Get ready for a fun kitchen science experiment! Red cabbage is famous in the natural dye world not just for its colour, but for its incredible sensitivity to pH. The dyebath you create will be a stunning violet, but you can magically shift its colour by changing the acidity or alkalinity of the water. This makes it a fascinating and interactive dye to work with.
Chop up about half a red cabbage and simmer it in a pot of water for an hour. The water will turn a deep, royal purple. Strain out the cabbage pieces and divide your dyebath into separate containers if you want to experiment. To get blues and teals, make the dyebath slightly alkaline by adding a pinch of baking soda. To achieve pinks and magentas, make it more acidic by adding a splash of white vinegar or lemon juice.
Pro-Tip: The final colour can also be influenced by the type of water you use (hard vs. soft) and the material of your pot. Dyeing in a copper pot can push the colours towards teal, while a rusty iron pot (or adding a piece of rusty metal) will "sadden" the colours, turning them into moody greys and greens. It reminds me of a project Goh Ling Yong once shared, where unexpected variables led to the most stunning, unrepeatable results.
5. Coffee & Tea Tinctures: For a Vintage, Earthy Aesthetic
Your morning ritual can double as your next dye project. Used coffee grounds and old tea bags are perfect for creating a beautiful range of warm, earthy browns, soft tans, and delicate beiges. This technique is fantastic for "overdyeing"—dyeing a patterned or lightly coloured fabric to give it a muted, vintage look. It can beautifully unify clashing colours or give a plain white fabric an antique charm.
Collect your used coffee grounds or a handful of used black tea bags. Simmer them in water for about an hour to create a rich, fragrant dyebath. The more coffee or tea you use, the darker your potential shade. Strain the liquid well to avoid getting grounds or tea leaves stuck to your fabric.
Pro-Tip: This is a wonderful method for creating subtle patterns. Try tie-dyeing your fabric with rubber bands or string before submerging it in the dyebath. The resulting Shibori-style patterns in shades of cream and brown are sophisticated and timeless. After dyeing, rinsing your fabric in a solution of water and a bit of iron (like a few rusty nails steeped in water and vinegar) will shift the browns to cool, elegant shades of grey.
6. Pomegranate Peel Potential: Khaki Greens and Mustard Yellows
Don't throw away the tough, leathery skins of a pomegranate! They are a fantastic source of tannins, which not only act as a natural mordant but also produce a lovely and sophisticated palette of colours. Depending on your process and modifiers, you can achieve everything from soft mustard yellows and golds to earthy khaki greens and muted greys.
Chop the peels from one or two pomegranates into small pieces and simmer them in water for at least an hour. The resulting dyebath will be a yellowish colour. When you add your fabric, it will take on a beautiful golden-yellow hue.
The Iron Modifier Trick: The real magic of pomegranate dye happens when you introduce iron. After your fabric has been dyed yellow, you can dip it into an iron solution (often called an iron "blanket"). This will instantly shift the colour from yellow to a beautiful mossy green or a deep concrete grey. It’s a stunning transformation that showcases the true versatility of natural dyes.
7. The Truth About Beetroot: A Beautiful Stain, Not a Permanent Dye
Beetroot is the dye that everyone thinks of first. Its juice stains everything it touches with a glorious, vibrant magenta, so it must be a great dye, right? Well, yes and no. Beetroot produces an absolutely stunning colour, but much like turmeric, it's a fugitive dye. The colour is not very wash-fast or light-fast, meaning it will fade significantly with washing and exposure to sun.
So, should you skip it? Not at all! You just need to choose the right project. Beetroot is perfect for things that won't be washed frequently, like wall hangings, decorative bunting, or craft projects for kids. The process is simple: chop beets, simmer in water, and dye your fabric. You'll get an immediate and beautiful pink colour.
Embrace the Impermanence: Think of beetroot dyeing as an experience. It’s about the joy of creating that brilliant colour in the moment. Enjoy its vibrancy while it lasts, and when it fades, you have a fresh canvas to dye again with another kitchen-scrap colour! This mindset is at the heart of sustainable crafting—embracing the natural lifecycle of materials.
Your Turn to Create
Stepping into the world of natural dyeing is about more than just colouring fabric; it's about slowing down, observing the potential in the overlooked, and creating something truly unique with your own hands. It’s a gentle rebellion against a throwaway culture, proving that beauty and utility can be found in the most unexpected places—like your kitchen compost pile.
So, the next time you peel an onion or make guacamole, save those scraps. Let them be the start of your next weekend project. Don't be afraid to experiment, to mix dyebaths, or to see what happens when you add a squeeze of lemon juice. The journey is just as beautiful as the result.
We would absolutely love to see what you create! What colours will you discover in your kitchen? Share your natural dyeing projects on social media and be sure to tag us so we can see your beautiful, upcycled creations. What's the first kitchen scrap you're going to try? Let us know in the comments below!
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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