DIY,  Fabric

Bohemian Chic Wow! My Natural Turmeric Tie Dye Experiment

It’s Bohemian Chic at it’s best – Fall in love with the soft, natural elegance of turmeric tie dye.

natural Turmeric tie dye

I’ve always been attracted to tie dye because there’s a surprise element to the design process.  You can plan but your end results could turn out different than you expected.  I can handle different as long as it’s beautiful.

So I decided to experiment with natural dye using turmeric, you know the spice you cook with.  I chose it for it’s rich yellow color.  I thought it would give me a sun drenched look like a day at the beach.  That’s just what I was looking for.

If you want something completely original and are willing to do a little kitchen experiment with your spices you can follow along below and recreate what I did.

How To Tie Dye Naturally With Turmeric

Turmeric Dye Recipe & Tie Dye Supplies:

  • One large pot in stainless steel or ceramic
  • Use 1 tablespoons ground turmeric for every 2 cups water + 1/8 cup salt
  • Wooden painters stick or spoon
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • Natural Fabric of your choice – undyed linen, cotton or silk
  • Rubberbands or string

Turmeric Tie Dye Directions:

Step 1 – Prewash your fabric

How to tie dye - prewash your fabric

Wash with detergent and use 1/4 cup white vinegar in the final rinse.  This will help remove any sizing from the fabric so the dye will take.  Rinse your fabric well.

Step 2 – Prepare the Turmeric Dye

turmeric tie dye how to

turmeric tie dye how to

I used approximately 1/4 cup turmeric in my gallon of water.  The more turmeric used the darker the fabric will be.  Add your salt.  Bring mixture to a boil stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat simmer.

Step 3 – Prepare your fabric 

Tie dye - bind your fabric I used string and rubber bands to twist and then bind my fabric.

Tie dye - bind your fabric You can fold, tie or use rubber bands to create your pattern.

Step 4 – Dye your fabric 

 

tie dye turmeric fabric how toSubmerge your fabric in the dye bath completely.  Let simmer in the pot for atleast 1 hour.  You can use the wooden stick or spoon to stir so that it dyes evenly.

Step 5 – Rinse your fabric 

how to tie dye colorfast your fabric

Once the fabric has taken the dye you can remove it from the dye bath.  Rinse it out thoroughly.

how to tie dye colorfast & rinse your fabric Add baking soda to the rinse and let sit about 15 minutes.  This fixes the dye permanently so it doesn’t wash out.

Step 6 – Dry your fabric 

turmeric tie dye drying fabrics Note: The fabric turned bright orange but it faded when it dried in the sun.  You can see a big difference in the fabrics where I used baking soda as the fixing agent.

Step 7 – Dry your fabric and use it!

Once the fabric is dry it’s good to run it through the dryer to help soften the feel.  Now you are ready to use your new gorgeous tie dye anyway you desire.

turmeric tie dye drying fabrics
finished tie dye with turmeric

Now you are ready to create!

The options are endless and of course totally unique!

finished turmeric tie dye fabrics - Splendid HabitatThe napkins are the bright orange fabrics above.  They mellowed beautifully to a soft yellow after drying.

Turmeric tie dyed pillow - SplendidHabitat

I dyed a cotton pique fabric and vintage cotton napkins for my natural tie dye experiment.  They came out beautiful.

It really was easy use natural turmeric tie dye to get this earthy brilliant sun kissed yellow color and I love it!

What do you think?

There’s something very special about natural dyeing.  Since I like to experiment and figure things out  I’m on to the next adventure.

Until next time … 

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