How to Dye Cotton With Walnut Shells

You can change the color of cotton using natural materials.

Before commercially produced chemical fabric dyes were available, people would dye fibers and fabrics with natural materials and objects that could be found in nature, such as walnut shells. The next time you are planning to color a natural fiber, such as cotton, try your hand at using walnut shells as the dye instead of a chemical dye. A few household supplies are all you will need.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. walnut shells
• Slotted spoon
• 1 cup salt
• Stock pot
• Water
• Cotton fabric

Instructions

1. Place walnut shells in a stock pot.

2. Fill the pot three-quarters full of water.

3. Add in 1 cup of salt.

4. Boil the walnut shells for an hour.

5. Remove the shells from the water with a slotted spoon.

6. Soak your cotton fabric in water to saturate it, then place it in the walnut dye.

7. Soak the cotton in the dye until it achieves the desired color.

8. Rinse out the cotton fabric with warm water, gradually turning the water to cold as the fabric is free of excess dye.

References

• Smithsonian: How to Dye Fibers Naturally