BUNDLE DYE TUTORIAL
MATERIALS
- Scoured, pre-mordanted organic cotton bandana
- Cotton ties or rubber bands
- Medium bowl or bucket
- Clean work surface that can get wet
- Small pot with vegetable steamer and lid
- Metal tongs
- White vinegar in a spray bottle — optional
- Dye stuff — recommendations listed below
DYE STUFF & COLOR GUIDE
- Sulfur cosmos — orange
- Coreopsis — rust
- Black knight scabiosa — purple, blue
- Black magic Bachelor’s buttons — purple, blue
- Black hollyhock — purple, blue
- Roses — mostly yellow, depending on variety
- Queen Anne's lace — yellow
- Goldenrod — yellow
- Marigolds — yellow
- Yarrow — yellow
- Dyer's chamomile — yellow
- Tansy — yellow
- Dandelions — yellow
Feel free to experiment with other varieties, but be sure to look up the toxicity of any flowers you’re not familiar with before using them in a dye project. Flowers can be fresh or slightly wilted.
STEP 1
Soak the pre-mordanted bandana in a bowl of water for 1-24 hours before dyeing.
Spin or wring out bandana and lay on a clean work surface. Bandana should be damp but not dripping wet.
STEP 2
Sprinkle dye stuff over bandana, being mindful to place materials from edge to edge, not just in the center of the fabric.
OPTIONAL
Lightly spritz with white vinegar. An acidic environment can be helpful in releasing color but you will still get great results without it.
STEP 3
Starting from the bottom, roll the fabric neatly, being careful not to rumple it.
Roll the fabric again from the opposite direction, tucking the top edge inside to secure all the dye stuff inside. Secure with ties or a rubber band.
STEP 4
Place inside vegetable steamer with about an inch of water in the pot. Water should not touch the fabric so amount of water needed will vary based on steamer used.
Steam with lid on for 1 hour, flipping bundle halfway through. Let bundle cool completely, preferably 12 hours or overnight.
STEP 5
Unroll bundle and shake out the dye materials — these can go straight into your compost.
The magic happens in these final steps, so keep going!
Hang dry away from sunlight, then keep it hung up to cure for 24 hours to 1 week. After curing, wash with a PH neutral detergent such as Seventh Generation and air dry.
STEP 6
Once dry, you’re ready for your final step.
Iron on cotton/linen setting with steam. Ironing sets the dye and reveals the true print achieved by the botanical bundle dye.
Enjoy!
NATURALLY DYED
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Machine wash delicate with PH neutral detergent.
Air dry for best longevity.
Iron if you wish. Store out of direct sunlight.
Wear often and enjoy!
When no longer useful, simply add to your compost.