Thread: dying with wallnuts

Does somebody know how to dye fabric with wallnut shells?? Do you need a fixation?

Thanks a lot!! Pinot

we used walnuts to dye with years ago- boiled the nuts until the water was quite dark- then added the fabric- kept it simmering until it was darker than what we wanted (gives you like a 'tea-dyed' look--different shade of brown-
then rinsed in cold water- let dry and heat set- we did not use additives- but we had prepared the fabrics- by pre-washing with detergent- no fabric softeners.
the dyed fabric kept its brown stained hue for years---we did this back in the 70's- still the same--it is a darker- different color than natural muslin-
we also used the water to dye our skin :)=== ready tan---that made us look like we were in great need of a bath! made our skin look --- dirty---and lasted for weeks! my mom was not impressed with our (creativity)

Sounds like a future project to try. Thanks for sharing.

some websites:

http://www.practicalprimitive.com/sk...walnutdye.html

http://www.phancypages.com/newslette...sletter538.htm
**this one includes other ideas what to do with walnuts

Show off your work if you try this!

Originally Posted by ckcowl

we used walnuts to dye with years ago- boiled the nuts until the water was quite dark- then added the fabric- kept it simmering until it was darker than what we wanted (gives you like a 'tea-dyed' look--different shade of brown-
then rinsed in cold water- let dry and heat set- we did not use additives- but we had prepared the fabrics- by pre-washing with detergent- no fabric softeners.
the dyed fabric kept its brown stained hue for years---we did this back in the 70's- still the same--it is a darker- different color than natural muslin-
we also used the water to dye our skin :)=== ready tan---that made us look like we were in great need of a bath! made our skin look --- dirty---and lasted for weeks! my mom was not impressed with our (creativity)

thank you ck cowl! You realy don't want to see my hands right now.......

Originally Posted by redkimba

some websites:

http://www.practicalprimitive.com/sk...walnutdye.html

http://www.phancypages.com/newslette...sletter538.htm
**this one includes other ideas what to do with walnuts

Show off your work if you try this!

Thank you redkimba. Those are very nice sites. I will be able to dye some muslin now! I don't think I will try the soap and scrub......though my hands could need some scrub now! Thanks again!

great sites for sure. I do rinse with Retayne though, really does help remove any excess!

I always scour the fabric first. Even if it is just by using synthropol in the washer first.

I have gotten it to hold the darker color by adding soda ash to the water!

redkimba thanks for the websites. I now have some ideas to use. Not sure on the facial scrub.

I totally misread that subject line. My dd is allergic to walnuts so I got confused where I was and thought it was a story about an allergic reaction gone bad (which I would expect to read at a food allergy board I go to).

It dyes your hands, why not anything else.