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Hands on - Turmeric dye
This homemade dye gives a vibrant yellow-orange colour. It can be used to dye fabrics and the shells of Easter eggs.
What you'll need
4 tablespoons ground turmeric (or more if you want a stronger colour)
2 pints water
Large stainless steel (not aluminium) saucepan
Wooden spoon or plastic stirring utensil
2 pints water
Large stainless steel (not aluminium) saucepan
Wooden spoon or plastic stirring utensil
Make the dye
Stir the turmeric into the water, bring it to the boil and simmer for about 15 minutes.Allow it to cool a little and you are ready to dye.
Use the dye
To dye fabric
Soak the fabric in tap water first and wring out. Then submerge the damp fabric into your hot turmeric dye. Allow it to soak for as long as you like to allow the colour to develop. You can prod and poke at it with a wooden spoon to make sure the fabric is evenly covered. If the dye is still hot be very careful! If you would like a stronger dye, remove the fabric, wring and allow it to dry, then re-soak it in the dye. Repeat this process until you get the colour you want. Once you are happy with the colour of the fabric, rise it under clean water until the water runs clear. Allow it to dry.
To dye eggs
Splash about a tablespoon of cider vinegar into the hot dye liquid. This will help the dye to stick to your eggshells better. Carefully lower hard-boiled eggs into the dye.
You can leave the eggs in the dye for at least 30 minutes but longer is better. The longer you leave them, the darker they become. You could leave them overnight.
You can also draw a pattern on your eggs first before you dunk them in the dye. Draw a pattern such as spots or stripes using a wax crayon or candle. This will act as a block and the dye will not stick to these areas. You can also create stripes and unusual patterns by wrapping elastic bands around your hard-boiled eggs before dunking into the dye.
Soak the fabric in tap water first and wring out. Then submerge the damp fabric into your hot turmeric dye. Allow it to soak for as long as you like to allow the colour to develop. You can prod and poke at it with a wooden spoon to make sure the fabric is evenly covered. If the dye is still hot be very careful! If you would like a stronger dye, remove the fabric, wring and allow it to dry, then re-soak it in the dye. Repeat this process until you get the colour you want. Once you are happy with the colour of the fabric, rise it under clean water until the water runs clear. Allow it to dry.
To dye eggsSplash about a tablespoon of cider vinegar into the hot dye liquid. This will help the dye to stick to your eggshells better. Carefully lower hard-boiled eggs into the dye.
You can leave the eggs in the dye for at least 30 minutes but longer is better. The longer you leave them, the darker they become. You could leave them overnight.
You can also draw a pattern on your eggs first before you dunk them in the dye. Draw a pattern such as spots or stripes using a wax crayon or candle. This will act as a block and the dye will not stick to these areas. You can also create stripes and unusual patterns by wrapping elastic bands around your hard-boiled eggs before dunking into the dye.
Activities
