Can i make dye without buying a kit?

Question

I am wanting to tie-dye some shirts, and i was needing information on how to make homemade dye, or what household items i can use. Thanks :)

Answer 1

Yes, you can do this yourself, but some of the stuff is quite toxic. You will need to get a book from the library on dying and making dyes, and you will need to get some cooking utensils which you will never use for food preparations again. Pots, spoons, measures, etc must never be mixed with food prep.

It is actually more trouble than it is worth. I would get one of the more stable dye kits such as Procion to do this.

Answer 2

you'll need some fruits and veggies that will stain, such as beets.  BUT, you don't know how long it'll last on the fabric.  it's not permanent like a kit.

Answer 3

There are all sorts of things you can use to dye cloth.  You really need to get a book about dying with found substances (such as pea pods) and natural dyes like woad.  Look in your local library.  You'll need to find out what sorts of mordants and so forth you need for each type of dye and cloth, as they vary quite a bit.

Have fun doing the research and experimenting!

Answer 4

Go to this site. It gives several different things to use.

(http://kidscrafts.suite101.com/article.c...

Have fun

Answer 5

You can use food coloring, but only if you are dyeing wool or silk or untreated nylon. Food coloring does NOT work as a dye for cotton! On cotton or polyester, food coloring used as a dye will just wash out, leaving at most an ugly stain.

If you want good results, pick up a decent tie-dye kit. Go to a crafts store or a sewing store or even Target or Walmart. They are not expensive. Good brands of tie-dye kits include Jacquard, Dylon, Rainbow Rock, and Tulip. Don't use Rit dye; it works better than food coloring, but it still fades quickly and tends to ruin other clothes in the laundry. A good tie-dye kit produces shirts that will stay bright for years.

The best household item for dyeing clothing is turmeric, the yellow spice often used in curries. Add several spoonfuls to water and boil your tied-up shirts in it for an hour. It will fade after a while, so don't get too attached to your shirts. The only way to keep turmeric from fading is to store it in the dark and never wash it. Other household items such as beets make really bad dyes which wash out immediately.