How to Dye Fabric Red

Beets are one of nature's best dyes

According to Sophronia Gallop of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, "Until the mid-19th century, all dyes were derived from the leaves, twigs, roots, berries, or flowers of various plants or from animal substances." While nearly every major fabric and garment manufacturing industry uses chemical based dyes today, there's no reason why you have to, particularly when so many things occur in nature that will give you a desirable shade of red. You can use things like blackberries, dandelion roots or dried hibiscus flowers. Beets also provide a nice deep shade of red.

Things You'll Need

• 27 cups water
• 4 cups white vinegar
• Large pot
• Fabric
• 3 15-ounce cans beets
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Clothesline

Instructions

1. Mix the water and the vinegar together in a large pot. Allow it to simmer.

2. Dunk the fabric in the water and vinegar mixture. Allow it to simmer in the pot for an hour.

3. Drain the pot of water into your sink. Rinse the fabric thoroughly with cool water. This process will act as a fixative so that the dye doesn't run or fade after you color it.

4. Open the cans of beets and strain the juice into the pot. Remove the beets from the can and chop them up into small pieces with a knife on a cutting board. Dump them into the pot.

5. Add 11 cups of water to the pot. Bring the water and beets to a boil. Add the fabric. Let the fabric simmer for at least an hour. Ideally the fabric should soak overnight.

6. Drain the dye solution into your sink. Wring out the solution from the fabric with your hands. Dry fabric outside on a clothesline or a piece of nylon rope.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear rubber gloves when in contact with the beets to protect your hands.

References

• Yale: How To Dye Cloth
• Pioneer Thinking: Natural Dyes
• Easy Fun School: Beet Dye