In natural dyieng, avocado is one of the few plants that doesn’t need any mordant to bind the fiber.
Unlike turmeric, but like onions, avocados are more resistant to light and washing.
I’d like to share my experience with you on a few linen coupons.
You can also watch this presentation on video (in french).
My way is just one of many. The idea is to give you the necessary steps and ingredients. The field of possibilities is wide in botanical color, and that’s what makes it so exciting. I never look for a particular color. I receive what the plant can give me.
The color of avocado dyeing varies according to several parameters
The quantity of avocados: The quantity is calculated according to the weight of the fiber to be dyed: in my experiment I used avocado skins and stones (pits) at 100% of the fiber weight. As the stones are rich in dye, we can go down to 50%. So for 100g of fabric, I used 100g of avocado skins.
You can use skin and stones in the same bath for redder tones, or separately. The stones alone are pinkish in color, while the skins are more orange.
Avocado quality: Choosing avocados that are in season and grown organically and locally is better for nature. The darker the skin with red highlights, the richer the coloring.
Water quality: with hard water, tones will tend towards pink-red-brown, with more acidic or softer water, tones will be more orangey, salmon-like.
Cooking times also influence color, as does the phenomenon of oxidation, a particularity of avocado dye. Once out of the bath, the color of your fiber exposed to the air will strengthen.
The quality of the fiber to be dyed: avocado gives beautiful shades on botanical fibers and silk.
Materials required for avocado dyeing
- A stainless steel, enamelled iron or aluminium saucepan or stewpot
- Strainer and cloth cheesecloth for filtering
- An iron sponge or steel wool to recycle
- A jar
- Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, washed and dried avocado skins and pits, then cut into small pieces.
- Squares of fabric or yarn in natural fibers, cotton, linen, hemp, silk, wool…
The different steps of avocado dyeing
- Weigh your fiber (fabric or yarn) free of all primer, and weigh the dried avocado skins and/or stones at between 100% and 50% of the weight of your fiber to be dyed, more or less, depending on the intensity desired.
- Soak your fabric in lukewarm water.
- Prepare a decoction of your fruit: heat to a simmer. Stir regularly. Minimum operating time 60 minutes. Add water if necessary. The juice will turn red.
- Filter your fruit decoction and reserve the juice. Repeat the decoction for a deeper color and a more concentrated bath.
- Dip your wrung-out fibers into the avocado juice and heat. Bring to the boil. Stir regularly. Minimum operating time 30 minutes, longer for deeper shades.
- Leave to cool. Remove the fabric, wring it out and dry in the shade. The oxidation phenomenon will enhance the color. Once dry, rinse.
The colors obtained
The shades obtained vary between red and beige depending on whether you use :
- stones alone,
- skins alone,
- both together.
Turning the color
For rosier tones: add a good tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate to half a liter of lukewarm water. Soak for at least 5 minutes, keeping an eye on the color, taking it out when you like the shade.
For purplish-gray shades only possible on plant fibers (avoid wool and silk, as they may damage the fiber): soak the dyed fabric in a solution of iron acetate (you can find the recipe for iron acetate here). Shades will change according to the soaking time and iron concentration of your solution.
To obtain a beautiful violet, it is possible to dye with phytolacca.
You can also watch this avocado dyeing recipe on video (in french).
