How to Tie-Dye a Shirt Naturally Using Turmeric

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Turmeric is a wonderful little spice that you can find at almost any grocery store. Not only is it a superfood and a beauty remedy that has been used for ages, it is also the perfect all natural dye. I love yellow and turmeric gives clothing a beautiful deep yellow color once dyed.

Here is how you do it...

Start by soaking your shirt in cold water, which will help set the dye. Tightly wrap your rubber bands around your shirt. You can make a million different patterns which is the fun part about this.

Add 3-4 tablespoons of turmeric powder (I purchased it in bulk at my local health food store) to a large pot of water. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes and then add your shirt. Let it soak in the dye for about an hour. I poked it with a wooden spoon (which is now stained bright yellow forever) every 15 minutes or so to help ensure it was setting evenly. If you want an even deeper yellow you can leave your fabric in the mixture longer.

Once you are satisfied with the color, take out your shirt and rise it in cold water until the water runs clear. Remove the rubber bands and let dry. This is such a simple, green (in this case yellow hehe) way to change up a old white shirt that may need a new life!

On a side note: Happy first day of spring, which is my favorite season of them all!

32 comments:

Lindsay said...

That is so cool! I love the pretty yellow it turned into!

Truebluemeandyou said...

Hi, I'd love to know if you have to set the fabric in anyway to make it somewhat colorfast. Do you have to hand wash it in the future? Asking because I love this idea and would like to try it :)

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Truebluemeandyou- washing the fabric in cold water prior to dyeing will help set it. The picture shown above was taken after I washed it in the washing machine and it remained the same deep yellow that I was going for. Hope that helps :)

Jackie @ EatLove&Style said...

Oh wow! It turned out great. I haven't tie-dye clothes since I was a little, brings back memories.

Jackie

Susan said...

I love this! Lindsay you're so creative, this is too cute!

Welcome said...

love yellow and tie dye! so cute

Lo said...

Does this work with other brightly colored spices? Maybe Cayenne Pepper for a red color?

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted said...

This is soooooo cool!Looks like something they'd sell at JCrew for like $50 buckaroos.

Bloomsandbugs said...

This is so cool because I always have turmeric on hand. Gotta try this...I wish there was something to color set it because the only turmeric may fade out gradually with washes.

Paula (The Sea Green Journal) said...

Wow, this is really really cool! Another cool thing about turmeric. Thanks! :)



Paula
www.theseagreenjournal.com

Alexa said...

Oh my gosh adorable. And I love that color of yellow! :)

JM said...

How cool! This is a great solution to those white t-shirts that have those awful yellow pit stains (we all have at least one, right??).

NOELLE ALOUD said...

I LOVE this idea. How perfect for spring!

Mimi said...

that is soooo cool! yellow is my favorite color and this looks super easy to do! :) oh, and is there a specific way to wash it?

p.s. happy first day of spring! :)

<3, Mimi
http://whatmimiwrites.blogspot.com/
Fashion To Figure Giveaway

Anonymous said...

This is so creative and so cute!!

Unknown said...

Look at you!!! You are so amazing, I swear!!! I'm telling you...you need to make a pretty coffee table book one day of all of your amazing diys :) XO brynn

Mae said...

Just found your blog via "rolled up pretty" and I am in love!!!! I'm your newest follower!

Anonymous said...

that color is gorgeous! my mom's been on a huge turmeric kick lately, i'll have to tell her what else it can do!

Christine said...

LOL I have done this by accident so many times...

Charlotte said...

Wow, what a perfect sunny yellow color! I have similar questions as a lot of posters - how do you wash it? Will it potentially stain other clothes?

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

Charlotte and Mimi- after you initially rinse it out in cold water and let the water run through it until water is clear...you can wash it in the washing machine on a cold setting (that is what I did). I washed it with a semi-dark load and the color did not transfer to my other clothes. Hope that helps :)

Anna @ IHOD said...

You rock my world. ;)

Kat said...

Whoa, interesting! That sounds fun. I haven't made a tie-dye shirt in ages.

www.thatzannigirl.com

Jo-Anna@APrettyLife said...

Who knew?! I never thought of using turmeric as a textiles dye! LOVE it! You really are so creative!!
Jo-Anna

The Chapstick Wrangler said...

This looks awesome and so simple, I never thought of using a spice to dye a shirt before! I definitely want to try this.

--The Chapstick Wrangler

www.chapstickwrangler.blogspot.com

Homemade Mamas said...

Just did this on a shirt that had coffee stains on it - LOVE IT!! Worked beautifully! You can see the results here: http://www.homemademamas.net/2012/04/from-stained-to-spicy.html (we gave you credit for the idea, of course!) :)

Magpie said...

Love this color and the natural turmeric dye idea! Thanks for posting!

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Saved the day making a too red mix (using boxed yellow & red dyes)into a lovely just right orange...mahalo!

Angetan said...

Wow! I never thought that turmeric powder can be used for dye a shirt. It does look lovely! I plan to make it this weekend. Thank you :)

Anonymous said...

The last step of dyeing is usually heat-setting, so I'd say it sure wouldn't hurt to air-dry your project then finish with a long dryer session or hot iron between newsprint or old sheets.

Lisa said...

I think I will try to make a sunny tablecloth from an old cotton flat sheet I have. This is so cool! Thanks.

Ashley said...

We tried this and had great results!

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